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Class 
Book 




/ v.7Sl 5 



Gpiglitl^?. 



CDEYRIGHT DEPOSE 




N. C. CARPENTER 



"STEPS UNTO HEAVEN ' 



Copyright 1912. 

By N. C. CARPENTER 

Owingsville, Ky 



THE REPUBLICAN PUBLISHING CO. 
PUBLlSHtRS, PRINTERS, BINDERS. 

MT. VERNON, OHIO. 

CCI.A327258 



""bteps Unto Heaven 

NrcrCARPENTER 

u 

Minister of 

±ke Salt Lick and Slate Valley 
Cnristian Cnurcnes 



I ' 



Witk an introduction by T. S. Tinsley, 
City Evangelist, Louisville, Kentucky 



I ' 



PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR 





0"wingsville, 


Ky. 


> ■> 




1 1 




Price 


^ • • 


• 


• 


. $1.00 


Price Ly mail 


• • • 


• 


• 


. $1.10 







APPRECIATION 




TO the Salt Lick, Slate Valley, Olympia, 
White Oak, Pleasant Valley and Midland 
Christian Churches, in whose service I 
have spent the most faithful years of my 
' 'student ministry, ' ' and among whose 
members I count many earnest and loyal 
friends, whose hearty co-operation and 
loyal support made it possible to add 660 
souls to the Kingdom of God, encourage 
hundreds of others who had ''well nigh given up'' — To 
hundreds of other friends and brethren who have spoken 
kindly to me, and of my ministry — To my sacrificing 
father and mother, and other relatives who have 
been exceedingly good to me during my long struggle 
for an education — And to all friends everywhere who 
rejoice at any degree of success to which I may attain, 
I beg to express my highest appreciation. 

N. C CARPENTER 




PREFACE 



Naturally a little volume like this takes its 
name from the first chapter of its contents, and, 
therefore, ^^ Steps Unto Heaven'' is the title 
which I have given it. Another reason why 
I have assigned it this title is because, '^ Steps 
Unto Heaven" is a phrase in my favorite hymn, 

^^ NEARER, MY GOD, TO THEE." 

These sermons, delivered from the pulpit, 
have been very kindly spoken of, and instru- 
mental in bringing many to Christ, and in 
publishing them it is my heart's desire and 
prayer that they will lead others to Him; 
inspire those who are already enlisted in the 
army of righteousness, and prove to be a 
blessing to every one who reads them. 

Believing that hundreds of my friends 
and brethren will be delighted to receive this 
little volume, for which I have made many a 
sacrifice, and hoping it will accomplish the 
mission on which it is sent, I now give it my 
benediction and send it forth. 

THE AUTHOR. 

Owingsville, Ky., January, 1912. 




W. H. CORD 



TO 
vVilliain Henry Cora 

my beloved teacner, 

who T\^atcnea over me ^vitn the tender 

solicituae or a ratner, ana \vno has 

been removed to 

'' rairer Fields on High, 

tnis little volume is 

AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED 
BY THE 



AUTHOR 




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T. S. TINSLEY 



My Old Kentucky Church 

Orthodox 
I 1 

The truth rings clear in my Old Kentucky Church, 

'Tis Freedom! The creeds are no more; 

The Book Divine for the Heavenly truth we search. 

And its grace renews us o'er and o'er. 
We launch our hopes with the good old Ship of Grace, 

No danger of reefs or hidden rocks; 
The "Rules of Faith" with the "Book Alone" replace. 

In my Old Kentucky Church — Orthodox. 

CHORUS— 

Pray for peace to Zion, Oh! pray that all be one! 
We will sing one song for my Old Kentucky Church: 
For my Old Kentucky Church — Orthodox! 

Our Plea up North is a little loose at ends, 

"No matter if sprinkled or immersed," 
And away down South the "anti" still contends, 

"Our Restoration Rules Are All Reversed;" 
The Eastern type is a little stiff and cold. 

And Westward, Look out for watered stocks! 
But They All Mix Well In the Center Of The Fold 

In my Old Kentucky Church — Orthodox. 

The light came first to Barton Warren Stone, 

At Cane Ridge — The richest spot on eaith; 
The Campbells found that the good seed had been sown. 

And "The Cause" in Old Kentucky found its birth. 
The soil was rich and the people heard the call. 

They settled in many little flocks; 
So the work was done in the Blue Grass first of all. 

In my Old Kentucky Church — Orthodox. 

Thad. S. Tinsley. 



Introduction 




preach ! Nothing else like it on 

Earth ! Nothing like it in Heaven ! 

It is to ''speak for God" — to 

become a voice for God's truth 

and God's love. More: it is to see 

God, to reveal God, to give God to the world. 

God in Christ ! God in the Gospel ! God in the 

heart and voice and soul of the preacher ! 

The preacher in unique. That which makes 
him is different — different from the making of 
every other workman. That Avhich the 
preacher makes is different — different from the 
products of any other calling. The preacher 
is made by agencies both scrutible and inscrut- 
ible. The discernable things that give form to 
his calling are not so fundamental as the things 
knoAvn onlv to God. I believe in the divinitv 
of all men with still a plus to the preacher. 

The products of the preacher are unique. 
Some of the things he must do are natural ; 
others are, at least, above nature, if we may 
not say supernatural. He must build his church 
as the business man builds his trade but he 



10 



INTRODUCTION 11 

also builds above the sky-line of human com- 
merce. Part of his building is seen on earth 
but the sculptured frieze and gable are above 
the earth cloud-line and are to be seen only in 
Heaven. 

N. C. Carpenter is a preacher. His people 
know it. His sermons prove it. The growth 
of his churches show it. Best of all, the souls 
converted to Christ and saved from the power 
of sin record it not onlv on the consciousness 
of his large and growing circle of Christian 
associates but also on the unforgetting heart 
of God in Heaven. 

:.io introductory vision could be more fit- 
ting to this delightful little volume— ''STEPS 
UNTO HE A YEN ' —than the annonvmous 
dream which has been given poetic voice and 
rvthm. 

'*Wear3" and worn with earthly care, 

I yielded to repose; 
And soon upon my raptured sight, 

A glorious vision rose: 
I thought, while slumbering on my couch, 

In mid-night's solemn gloom, 
I heard an angel's silvery voi30, 

And radiance filled the room. 

A gentle touch awakened me, 
A gentle whisper said: 
'Arise, O sleeper I follow me'. 

And through the air we sped: 

We left the worl:l so far away 



11 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

That like a speck it seemed, 

And heavenly glory, bright and clear. 

Across our pathway streamed. 

Still on we went: my heart was filled 

With silent ecstasy! 
I wondered what the change would be, 
What next would greet my sight; 
And presently a change was wrought. 
And I was clothed in white. 

We stood before a City's Wall, 

Most glorious to behold! 

W"e passed through gates of glittering pearls, 

O'er streets of purest gold 

That needed not the Sun by day, 

The silvery moon by night; 

The glory of the Lord was there, 

The Lamb thereof its light. 

Bright angels passed the shining screet. 

Sweet music filled the air; 
And white-robed saints with glittering crowns 

From every clime were there: 
And some that I had loved on Earth, 
Stood with them round the Throne: 
'Worthy is the Lamb' they said, 
'The glory His alone.' 

But fairer still than all the sight, 

1 saw my Savior's face, 
And, as I smiled, He looked on me 

With wondrous love and grace; 
Lowly I bowed before His Throne, 
O'er joyed that I at last. 
Had reached the Heaven of my hope. 
And Earth, at last, was passed. 



INTRODUCTION 13 

And then in solemn tones He said, 
'Where is thy diadem; 

That bright should sparkle on thy brow, 
Adorned with many a gem; 
I know that thou didst believe on me, 
And life through me is thine, 
But where are all those radiant stars, 
That in thy crown shouldst shine?' 

Yonder thou seest a glorious throng, 
With crowns on every brow; 
For every soul they won to me. 
They wear a jewel now; 
And such thy bright reward had been 
If such had been thy deed; 
If thou hadst caused some wandering soul , 
'In paths of peace to lead. 

I did not mean that thou shouldst walk, 

This way of life alone; 
But that the bright and shining light 
That round thy footsteps shone. 
Should guide some other wandering soul. 

To seek my home of rest; 
And thus in blessing t'nose around 
Thou hadst thyself been blest. 

The vision faded from my sight, 

The voice no longer spake; 

A spell seemed brooding o'er my soul. 
Which long I feared to break; 

But when at last I looked around. 

Upon the morning's glimmering light, 
My spirit fell o'erwhelmed indeed. 
With the vision's awful might. 



14 STEPS UNTO HEAA^EN 

I rose and wept with chastened joy, 

That still I dwelt below; 
That still another hour was mine, 

My faith by works to show; 
That still to others I might tell 

Of Jesus' dying love, 
And seek to win some wandering soul. 

To find his Home above. 

And now while still I dwell below. 

My motto this shall be: 
'Not to live for self alone, 
But for Christ who died for me'; 
And graven on my inmost soul, 
Those words of truth divine: 
'They that turn many to the Lord, 
Bright as the stars shall shine'." 



This book will likely reach many people 
that I know personally, so allow me to sub- 
scribe myself, 

Yours fraternally and affectionately, 

T. S. Tinsley, City Evangelist, 

Dec. 15, 1911. Louisville, Kentucky. 



CONTENTS 



<< 



PAGE 

Steps Unto Heaven" . . . .17 



The Holy City 39 

The Name of Jesus . . . . 51 

William Henry Cord .... 66 

God's Will Concerning Sinners . . 77 

Doing The Greater Works ... 89 

That Which Was Lost .... 105 

The Prodigal Son . . . . 117 




CHART 



"Steps Unto Heaven'' 



*' Beside all this, giving all diligence, add 
to your faith, courage; and to courage, know- 
ledge ; and to knowledge, temperance ; and to 
temperance, patience ; and to patience. Godlike- 
ness; and to Godlikeness, brotherl}'- kindness; 
and to brotherly kindness, love." 

II Peter 1 : 5-6. 
** There let the way appear steps unto heaven; 

All that Thou sendest me, 
In mercy given ; 

Angels to beckon me 
Nearer, my God, to Thee.'' 

It seems to me that when this stanza was 
written, the author must have in mind a great 
flight of steps on which the soul climbs into 
heaven, and our text is the scripture upon 
which I think the thought is based. In the text, 
the Apostle presents, as it were, a spiritual 
stairway extending from earth to heaven, and 
the chart before you represents this stairway. 

17 



18 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

But before you are ready to begin the life 
inarch up these steps, the foundation must be 
laid, and Paul says, *^ Other toundation can no 
man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus 
Christ/' 

Let us notice carefully what is involved 
in laying this foundation, for the strength of 
this spiritual stairway depends wholly upon 
the foundation: 

1. Faith. **But without faith it is impos- 
sible to please him; for he that cometh to God 
must believe that he is, and that he is a 
re warder of them that diligently seek him/* 
Heb. 11 :6. 

2. Repentance. '^Except ye repent ye 
shall all likewise perish/' Luke 13:3. 

3. Confession. *^ Whosoever therefore shall 
confess me before men, him will I confess also 
before my Father who is in heaven. But who- 
soever shall deny me before men, him will I 
also deny before my Father who is in heaven.'' 

4. Baptism. ^^He that believeth and is 
baptized shall be saved; but he that disbe- 
lieveth shall be condemned." Mark 16:16. 

''Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and 
be baptized every one of you in the name of 
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye 
shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 
2 :38. 

''Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto 
thee, except a man be born of the water and 



STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 1» 

the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of 
God." John 3:5. 

Therefore we are buried with him by bap- 
tism into death : that like as Christ was raised 
up from the dead by the glory of the Father, 
even so we also should walk in newness of 
life. For if we have been planted together 
in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in 
the likeness of his resurrection.'' Rom. 6:4-5. 

** Buried with him in baptism, wherein ye 
also are risen with him through the faith of the 
operation of God, who hath raised him from 
the dead.'' Col. 2:12. 

We believe into Christ; we repent into 
Christ ; we confess into Christ ; we are baptized 
into Christ. Thus he becomes the foundation of 
the great spiritual stairway that is to reach 
into the city of God. 

Having laid the foundation, the Apostle 
Peter says, *^ Beside all this, (that is, beside 
your faith, and your repentance, and your con- 
fession, and your baptism) giving all diligence, 
add to your faith, courage; and to courage, 
knowledge ; and to knowledge, temperance ; and 
to temperance, patience; and to patience, God- 
likeness; and to Godlikeness, brotherly kind- 
ness; and to brotherly kindness, love." 

We are now ready to begin the ascent of 
the stairway leading to God. We are now 
ready to begin climbing heavenward. The 
crown is at the top of the stairway, and can 
be obtained only by climbing for it. 



20 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

What, then, according to this text, is the 
first step we are to take after we become 
christians ? 

1. It is the step called courage. It seems 
to me that the first fact that God would have 
you to learn, is that there is no room in his 
kingdom for a moral coward. You must be 
courageous. *' Stand fast in the faith, quit you 
like men, be strong." 1 Cor. 16:13. Have 
moral courage to remain faithful among the 
faithless. Have moral courage to be godly 
among the ungodly; careful among the care- 
less ; thoughtful among the thoughtless ; sincere 
among the insincere, and Christlike among the 
unchristlike. Be true as steel whatever way the 
wind may blow. * ^Holding fast to the profes- 
sion of the faith without wavering." Have 
courage to speak what you believe to be right. 
Declare the right anywhere, and before any 
people. Let the world know where you stand. 

*'Do you think," said Frith, martyr, to 
the archbishop's men that would haA^e let him 
go, ^'that I am afraid to declare mine opinion 
unto the bishops of England in a manifest 
truth? If you both should leave me here, and 
go tell the bishops that you had lost Frith, T 
would surely follow as fast ?.iter as I might, 
and bring them news that I had found and 
brought Frith again." This man had courage 
to declare the right before even the bishops 
who opposed him. He was a moral hero ! 

You need courage not only to declare the 



STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 21 

right, but courage to do right. Never be cow- 
ardly enough to do wrong, and you will always 
have courage to do right. ''A company of 
boys in Chicago once endeavored to force a 
boy to go with them into a garden to steal 
fruit. He persisted in his refusal to go with 
them. They threatened to duck him in the 
river unless he consented, but he remained 
firm. His tormentors forced him into the 
water, and wickedly drowned him, because he 
would not steal. There was a true hero, and 
the genuine spirit of a martyr. One of the 
local printers furnishes the following para- 
graph in relation to him: — 'His father is one 
of the most worthy and estimable Norwegian 
citizens. He is a member of the Evangelican 
Lutheran Church. His little son, though but 
ten years of age, had given such true evidence 
of piety, and he was so intelligent and consist- 
ant in every respect, that he had been admitted 
as a member of the same church. His seat in 
the Sabbath school was never vacant, and his 
lessons were always learned. '^ Honor to the 
noble boy who was willing to die rather than 
do wrong! 

Stand firm, and tell the world that you are 
a christian. It will, perhaps, laugh at you at 
first, but when it sees that you are deeply in 
earnest, it will turn, fall at your feet, and beg 
your forgiveness. 

But a young man says, '*I never did like 
to be called a coward, and when I refuse to 



22 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

go to Sunday baseball, to drink with the other 
young men, to gamble, or, in a word, when I 
refuse to do anything that is wrong, they call 
it cowardice and say that I am a coward.'' 
Listen, young man! If it takes courage r» 
drink — ^be a coward! If it takes courage to 
gamble — be a coward! If it takes coura^^'e to 
go to Sunday baseball — be a coward! If it 
takes courage to be a prodigal — be a coward! 
If it takes courage to yield to temptation — be 
a coward! If it takes courage to take God's 
name in vain — be a coward! If it takes cour- 
age to kill your fellowman, or to break any 
other commandment — be a coward! 

When '*Pat" was called a coward for rim- 
ning away from the battle of Gettysburg when 
the first gun was fired he replied, ''Tajlh, and 
I'd rather be called a coward ill ^*ie lite than 
to be a corpse fifteen minutes." 

**Pat" was right! If it takes courage to 
do wrong, be a coward all your life rather than 
a dead hero! 

Have courage to stand for Christ. One of 
America's greatest evangelists said, ^*What we 
want is men with a little courage to stand up 
for Christ. When Christianity wakes up, and 
every child that belongs to the Lord is willing 
to speak for Him, is willing to work for Him, 
and, if need be, willing to die for Him, then 
Christianity will advance, and we shall see the 
work of our Lord prosper." 

Young man, starting up this great spiritual 



STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 23 

stairway you, should be deeply impressed with 
the great truth that you are to have courage 
to say no to temptation, for, 

You're starting today on life's journey. 

Alone on the highway of life; 
You'll meet with a thousand temptations; 

Each city with evil is rife. 
This world is a stage of excitement, 

There's danger whereever you go; 
But if you are tempted in weakness. 

Have courage, my boy, to say NO. 

The syren's sweet song may allure you; 

Beware of her cunning and art: 
Whenever you see her approaching, 

Be guarded, and haste to depart. 
The billiard saloons are inviting, 

Decked out in their tinsel show; 
You may be invited to enter: 

Have courage, my boy, to say NO. 

The bright ruby wine may be offered 

No matter how tempting it be. 
From poison that stings like an adder. 

My boy, have the courage to flee. 
The gambling halls are before you. 

There lights how they dance to and fro, 
If you should be tempted to enter. 

Think twice, even thrice, ere you go. 

In courage alone lies your safety. 

When you the long journey begin; 

And trust in a Heavenly Father, 

Will keep you unspotted ' from sin, 



( 



24 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

Temptations will go on increasing, 
As streams from a rivulet flow, 

But if you are true to your manhood, 
Have courage, my boy, to pay NO. 

II. The second step in the spiritual stair- 
way is KNOWLEDGE. Of course, this does not 
mean secular knowledge — such as political or 
govermental knowledge. But a knowledge of 
the Scriptures which are able to make you wise 
unto salvation. And I declare unto you that 
the ignorance regarding them is simply dis- 
tressing. I think that I am safe in saying that 
there are 90,000,000 people in North America 
who cannot tell vou where the Savior was born ! 

A minister of the Christian Church was 
once holding a meeting in the South. To test 
the *^ Scriptural knowledge '^ of the congrega- 
tion, he asked everybody in the congregation 
who had read the book of Samson to hold up 
his hand, and, ^'\o, and behold '\ an old-fash- 
ioned shouting brother, a member of the choir, 
right in the amen corner, lifted up his hand! 
The minister gently suggested to him that the 
book had not yet been published. The old 
brother ^s face turned red. The minister eased 
him down by saying, ^^You need not blush; 
you are the only man in this congregation who 
had the courage to vote.'' 

On another occasion two men were very 
enthusiastically discussing religion on the 
streets, and one of them said unto the other, 



STEPS UNTO HEAVEN SI 

^*AvS Pharaoh said unto Noah, ^Almost thou 
persuadest me to be a Christian.' *^ 

*^Yes, sir, that is hight,'* said the other. 
No wonder Paul said. *' Study to shew thy- 
self approved unto God, a workman that need- 
eth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word 
of truth." From this passage we learn that 
this knowledge can be obtained only by dili- 
gent study. 

But some one says, ^^I study the Scriptures, 
but I cannot understand what the Lord would 
have me to do, and I believe He will save me 
on account of my ignorance. '^ 

My friend, be not deceived. *'The times of 
ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now 
he commandeth men that they should all every- 
where repent, ^^ (Acts 17:30.) 

Again, ^^And a highway shall be there, 
and a way, and it shall be called The way of 
hiliness: the unclean shall not pass over it; 
but is shall be for the redeemed : the wayfaring 
men, yea fools, shall not err therein.^ ^ (Isa. 35: 

8) 

If any man have ears, let him hear. God 
has given to you a mind with which to study 
the Scriptures, and if you are too indifferent 
to study them in order to know what to do to 
be saved, vou will be damned on account of 
your ignorance. 

III. The next step in the spiritual stairway 
is TEMPERANCE. Oh, what a false conception 
hundreds of people have regarding temp'^rance! 



26 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

They say that is is all right to do anything, 
provided we do not carry it to excess — ^that it 
is all right to drink provided a man does not 
make a pig of himself. 

If I should ask you this morning to give 
me a definition of a drunkard, no doubt every 
person in this building would say, *'A drunk- 
ard is one who drinks to such an extent that 
he staggers and falls into the gutter." 

Well, then, suppose I pick out a man in 
this audience, and ask him how much he can 
drink and walk absolutely straight. 

He replies, **I can drink a quart, and still 
be able to walk perfectly straight. I can drink 
a quart, and nobody could tell that I had taken 
a drop." 

And suppose I ask ^*John Brown" — ^the 
biggest sinner on the streets — how much he 
can drink, and still walk like a strictly sober 
man. 

He replies, *'If I should drink one gill, I 
would fall into the ditch. One gill would make 
me dead-drunk." 

According to your definition, *^John 
Brown" would be the drunkard, while the man, 
in the church, who could drink a quart and 
walk perfectly straight, would be a sober 
Christian gentleman. 

Listen, ** Temperance has to do only with 
the things that are lawful, things that are 
right." Suppose you take your gun, walk out 
yonder and shoot a man down in cold blood — 



STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 27 

you might have killed ten men — but you use 
self-control and are temperate. Would you be 
a murderer? Most assuredly, you would be 
a murderer. **Thou shalt not kill." 

Suppose you take God's name in vain just 
once — you might take it in vain twenty times — 
but you use self-control and are temperate. 
Would there be anything wrong in it? Most 
assuredly it would be wrong. *'Thou shalt 
not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain ; 
for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that 
taketh his name in vain." 

You must be temperate in all things that 
are lawful, but if a thing IS WRONG WITHIN 
ITSELF, *^then the Scripture would be, TOUCH 
NOT, TASTE NOT, HANDLE NOT, AN UN- 
CLEAN THING." 

IV. Another step in the spiritual stairway 
is PATIENCE. No man or woman is equipped for 
life's duties and life's responsibilities who does 
not possess patience. Especially is no one 
equipped for the Christian race who does not 
have a full store of patience. You are not 
to forget that Christian patience is waiting, 
and that it is much more than waiting; it is 
endurance, which involves strain and trial. It 
is bearing a burden while you wait for the 
crown incorruptible; the crown which fadeth 
not away. Indeed, *^ patience is the guardian 
of faith, the preserver of peace, the cherisher 
of love, the teacher of humility. Patience gov- 
erns the flesh, strengthens the spirit, sweet- 



28 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

ens the temper, stifles anger, extinguishes envy, 
subdues pride; she bridles the tongue, refrain^ 
the hand, tramples upon temptations, endures 
persecutions, consummates martyrdom. Patience 
produces unity in the Church, loyalty in the 
State, harmony in families and societies; she 
comforts the poor, and moderates the rich; 
she makes us humble in prosperity, 
cheerful in adversity, unmoved by calunmy and 
reproach; she teaches us to forgive those who 
have injured us, and to be the first in asking 
forgiveness of those whom we have injured; 
she delights the faithful and invites the un- 
believing; is loved in a child, is praised in a 
young man, admired in an old man; she is 
beautiful in either sex and every age/' 

Let every Christian learn, during hours of 
impatience, to breathe the prayer of Mary 
Lyon, **Lord, help me to be patient, help me 
to remember, and help me to be faithful. Lord, 
help me to do all for Christ's sake, and go for- 
ward, leaning on the bosom of His infinite 
grace." 

V. The next step in the spiritual stairway 
is GODLiKENESS. If this godlikeness is to be 
something really practical, it must be likeness 
to ^^Grod manifest in the flesh." Likeness to 
the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ says, ^^He that 
hath seen me hath seen the Father." He and 
his Father are one. Therefore, if you are 
Christlike you are Godlike. 

Christlikeness means that you are to love 



STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 29 

like He loves. And to love like he loves, you 
must love your enemies. In this respect the 
Lord unquestionably practiced what he 
preached; When they took up stones to stone 
him, he loved them, and when they despite- 
fuUy used him, he prayed for them. The Lord, 
here, as everywhere, is our pattern. We are 
to do as he did. 

But I have talked to many people who 
claim that it is impossible for one to love his 
enemies. 

One old man said, "It was not intended 
that we should love our enemies. It is not 
in human nature." The old man was right. 
"It is not in human nature ; but it is in Christ's 
nature, and it is in the divine nature. And 
it is in the divine nature to impart it through 
Christ to those who claim it." 

You are to love your enemies, not only 
because it is like Christ, but because it is the 
way to subdue them. By love a sincere friend 
can be made out of the most bitter enemy. 

It is recorded of a Chinese emperor that, 
when he learned that his enemies had raised 
an insurrection in a distant province, he said 
to his officers, "Come, follow me, and we shall 
quickly destroy them." He marched forward, 
and the rebels submitted upon his approach. 
All now thought he would take the most signal 
revenge, but were surprised to see the captives 
treated with mildness and humanity. "How!" 
cried the first minister, "is this the manner in 



30 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

which your promise is fulfilled? Your royal 
word was given that your enemies should be 
destroyed, and behold, you have pardoned 
them all, and even caressed some of them/' 

*^I promised,'' replied the emperor, with a 
generous air, 'Ho destroy my enemies. I have 
fulfilled my word, for see, they are enemies no 
longer. I have made friends of them." In 
loving his enemies, this Chinese emperor was 
Christlike. 

This Christlikeness cannot be attained 

suddenly — in a moment. You must grow into 

it gradually. It is an unfolding. It is a 
growth. 

An intelligent physician was having some 
trouble regarding his *' Christlikeness ". He 
seems to have thought that he was making too 
slow progress in the Christian life ; that he was 
becoming like Christ too slowly. He decided to 
make his trouble known to his minister. He 
did so. The minister saw through it all in a 
moment. And to help him out of the difficulty the 
minister said, '*I go into the home of the fath- 
er and mother, after God has given them the 
first baby. To them, that is the sweetest, pret- 
tiest, brightest baby on earth — and that is all 
right for them to think so. They are anxious 
to have their preacher come. 

The father says, 'Say, who do you think 
this baby Looks like?' 

And I confess to you that I never saw a 



STEPS QNTO HEAVEN SI 

little baby that ever looked like anybody; it 
looks just like a baby, that is all I see. 

'Don^t you think it looks its father?' 

Not a bit; all babies look alike to me. 

I come back when it is a year old. He asks 
me the same question. 

Well, it does not look like it did twelve 
months ago ; it does not look very much like 
anybody yet. 

I come again and it is five years old. Here 
he is, a little boy wearing knee pants. 

' Now, sir, who do you think he looks like ? ' 

Well, he may look just a little bit like his 
father, but not much. 

I see him again. He is fifteen years old. 
Now he begins to look like his father. 

The next time he is twenty-one years of 
age. He stands right up beside his father, and 
is just as tall as he. He has mustache, and I 
see that he is just the image of his father. But 
it took twenty-one years to get there. 

So it is with the Christian life. When we 
were baptized we did not look much like God.'' 
But as the years go by, we continue to climb 
this spiritual stairway, we become more and 
more like him, and eventually, we shall '^see 
him as he is.'' 

VI. We come now to the sixth step, in the 
spiritual stairway, which we have called 

BROTHERLY KINDNESS, OR BROTHERLY LOVE. The 

new life which we have in Christ Jesus is 
necessarily a sonship. The soul that is ^^born 



32 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

again", finds itself born into a family life,, 
where it has duties to the Father, and to broth- 
ers. For these brethren we must have a holy 
concern. **If we do not love our brother whom 
we have seen, how can we love God whom we 
have not seen?" In times of persecution and 
temptation, there are constant calls to brotherly 
helpfulness. This brotherly love can steady 
the feet that are sliding, and restore the fal- 
len in the spirit of meekness. In family life 
the brothers are considerate and helpful one 
toward another. They stand by each other. 
They defend each other. They carry one an- 
other's burdens. Each one is willing to sacri- 
fice his own comfort for the comfort of his 
brother. Each rejoices in the other's success, 
and each lifts the other when he falls. *'And 
within the brotherhood of the spiritual there 
should be the mutual bearing of burdens, which 
is a sure sign of brotherly love." 

Yv'hen it comes to the Church, we find that it 
is impossible for disabilities, afflictions, or per- 
secutions to come upon it without directly af- 
fecting certain individuals — those who have 
the Church's best interest at heart. They bear 
the burden for the whole Church, and there- 
fore have special claim upon the sj^mpathy of 
their fellow-members. Every member of the 
Church ought to feel that he is a brother in 
the great spiritual family, and that he is duty- 
bound to carry his part of the burden. This 
is an essential part of brotherly love. Many 



STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 33 

are too ready to say of the suffering ones, **They 
are * stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.' " 
We should keep ourselves close knit with them 
in brotherly love. If there are some in bonds 
for Christ's sake, the others should have a fel- 
low-feeling. If there are some weeping, the 
others ought to weep with them; if there are 
some laughing, the others ought to laugh with 
them ; if a brother is hungry, feed him ; if a 
brother is thirsty, give him drink ; if a brother 
is a stranger, take him in ; if he is naked, clothe 
him; sick, visit him; in prison, go unto him. 

Along this very line, J. F. Serjeant said, 
**As the spokes of a carriage-wheel approach 
their centre they approach each other ; so, also, 
when men are brought to Jesus Christ, the 
centre of life and hope, they are drawn towards 
each other in brotherly relationship, and stand 
side by side journeying to their heavenly 
home." 

VII. The last step in the great spiritual 
stairway is love. This step brings us right 
into the city of God, where we shall hear that 
divine Son saying, ^^Come, ye blessed of my 
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you 
from the foundation of the world." 

One of the greatest sentences that the 
Apostle Paul ever wrote is found in 1 Corin- 
thians 13:13. *'But now abideth, faith, hope, 
love, these three; and the greatest of these is 
love." Love is the greatest because ^*God is 
love." 



34 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

''Had I the voice of Greeks and Jews, 
And nobler speech than ang^els use, 
Were I inspired to preach and tell 
All that is done in heaven and hell; 
Or were I to distribute all my store. 
To feed the hungry, clothe the poor 
And give my body to the flame 
To gain a martyr's glorious name — 
If love be absent, still I'm found 
A clanging brass and an empty sound/' 

When you look at love 's wonderful record, 
you are able to better understand why Paul 
said it is the ''greatest." The whole Bible is 
a record of God's love. "When Adam and Eve 
sinned and God went walking in the garden 
in the cool of the day saying, 'Where art thou?' 
this was love seeking. When the world was 
steeped in wickedness and the flood cannot but 
come, and Noah stands proclaiming righteous- 
ness, this is love as a barrier in the way of 
judgment. When Israel wanders and God with 
every entreaty seeks to turn them back, this 
is love crying with a breaking heart for the 
wanderer's return. There are special illustra- 
tions of this spirit, as for example, the Shuna- 
mite. It was love that sent the mother to 
Elisha. Or again the story of Absalom. It 
was love that sent the old father to the gates 
saying, ' 0, Absalom, my son, my son. ' Or the 
story of Jacob as an aged man grieving for his 
children. It was love which wrung from him 



STEPS UNTO HEAVEN S6 

the ci^', *Me ye have bereft of my children. 
Joseph is not; Simon is not, and now you will 
take Benjamin from me/ And as for the New 
Testament, love dictated the parables, love 
worked the miracles, love dealt with sinners, 
love drove the Savior to the cross, love sent 
Him to the shore or the sea in the early morn- 
ing, love sent Him back to represent us in the 
skies, and love will one day bring Him back 
again in all His power and might. It is this 
spirit which must win in the church, and when 
we have it victory is sure. 

''The frail daughter of General and Mrs. 
Booth had sung her hymns and told her story in 
the crowded meeting in Paris, France. Fallen 
men and women had only mocked her, but this 
provoked her to a new pathos. She told her 
story once more. When they still refused to 
yield to her, she walked through the crowd to 
the rear where a fallen girl with dishevelled 
hair and sin-marked face was jeering at her. 
Bending over her she took the poor face in 
both hands and kissed her, saying, 'My dear 
sister, I would to God that I could love you to 
Christ.' The girl was startled. Pure lips like 
those had not touched her cheek in many a 
year. She rose to her feet and staggered to 
the front,'' and took Christ for her Savior, and 
became an officer in the Salvation Army. How 
was she brought to Christ? She was loved to 
Him! She was loved up from the pit! She 
was loved out of the hands of the enemy of 



St STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

the soul ! She was loved from the destroyer, to 
the Savior! 

Ah, my friend, 



«i 



Do you know the world is dying 
For a little bit of love? 
Everywhere we hear their sighing 

For a little bit of love. 
For the love that rights a wrong, 
Fills the heart with hope and song, 
They have waited, oh so long. 
For a little bit of love. 

''From the poor of every city. 
For a little bit of love. 

Hands are reaching out in pity. 
For a little bit of love. 

Some have burdens hard to bear. 

Some have sorrows we should share. 

Shall they falter and despair 
For a little bit of love. 

''Down before their idols falling, 

For a little bit of love 
Many souls in vain are calling. 

For a little bit of love. 
If. they die in sin and shame. 
Somebody surely is to blame 
For not going in His name 

With a little bit of love. 

"While the souls of men are dying, 
For a little bit of love, 

WMle the ohildren too are crying 
For a little bit of love 



STEPS UNTO HEAVEN tT 

Stand no longer idly by. 
You can help them if you try; 
Go then, saying, Here am I 
With a little bit of love.'* 



May I ask, in conclusion, how many of 
you have climbed faithfully to the top of the 
stairway this morning? How many have been 
faithful to the end? How many have reached 
safely this top step — love? Ah, I think I hear 
some whispering in their heart, ^'Many have 
begim the ascent; sadly failed, and turned 
away crying, 

'Lost, lost, lost, 

For all eternity! 
The joy of wearing the victor's crown, 
The Master's voice with His glad 'Well done!' 

Lost! Lost, Lost!" 

Others in victory shout : 

''Gained, gained, gained, 

Through sorrow, and toil, and loss. 
Through treading the way of nail and thorn. 
The way of loneliness, shame, and scorn, 

The way that leads to the cross. 

"Gained! Gained! Gained! 

The reign with the King, the crown, 
The glorious lifting up, the rest; 
The joy of the soul who stood the test 

Of the bitter going down. 



98 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

''Gained! Gained! Gained! 

What joy for the man who died! 
'Fruit of my sorrow I now have seen 
In thee, O soul — thou hast faithful been, 

And my heart is satisfied.' 



» >> 



Yes, in triumphant praise, thousands are 
singing, 

"I've anchored my soul in the 'Heaven of Rest* 

I'll sail the wide seas no more; 
The tempest may sweep o'er the wild, stormy deep 

Tn Jesus I'm safe evermore." 




The Holy City 



And I, John, saw the holy city. 
Rev. 21: 2. 



I F ALL the Apostles, John was 
granted the sacred privilege of 
giving us a description of the holy 

city. The curtain was lifted and he 

gazed with miraculous vision upon 
it descending out of heaven as a bride adorned 
for her husband. Just how long he was per- 
mitted to look upon this resplendent city we 
are not told, but we must acknowledge that 
the vision was of sufficient length to enable him 
to give to the world an unparalleled descrip- 
tion of it. In his description he affirms that 
the foundations of the wall of the city are gar- 
nished with all manner of precious stones ; that 
the building of the wall is of jasper; that each 
gate is of pearl; that the street of the city is 
of pure gold ; that a pure river of the water of 
life ; clear as crystal ; proceeds out of the throne 
of God and of the Lamb, and that in the street, 
on either side of the river, is the tree of life, 

39 



40 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

the leaves of which are for the healing of the 
nations. 

Furthermore it is affirmed that: 
I. It is a city from ivhich all evil is ban- 
ished. 

All along life's path we see *^ wheat and 
tares growing together/' On all sides stands 
the church with a message of cheer for the 
downcast; a message of hope for the despon- 
dent ; a message of courage for the discouraged ; 
a w^ord of comfort for the bereaved ; water for 
the thirsty, and living bread for the hungry. 
She whispers to the fainting and bleeding sol- 
dier in the Army of righteousness, ** Fight the 
good fight of faith and lay hold of eternal life. ' ' 
She holds the gospel torch to brighten the 
christian's journey accross the black river of 
death, and throws out the lifeline to the sinner 
in the great whirlpool of destruction. 

Sin stands not with a message, ^^but with 
the cunning of multiplied devils ''; a multitude 
of bitter pangs; with long nights of anxious 
watching; with tears; with heartaches; with 
broken constitutions. It blows out the lamp of 
hope, and snatches away the flower that blooms 
on the grave of a sainted disciple. 

But in the holy city, it will not be so, for, 
'^ there shall in no wise enter into it anything 
that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abom- 
ination, or maketh a lie; but they w^hich are 
written in the Lamb's book of life." There 
his own shall enjoy entire separation from the 



THE HOLY CITY «. 

society of wicked and evil disposed persons, 
who in various ways, injure the righteous man 
and embitter his life on earth. The lewd, the 
vulgar, the avaricious, the liars, the slanderers, 
the backbiters, the meddlers, the hypocrites, the 
profaners, the infidels, and the scoffers will not 
be there, for they *^ shall have their part in the 
lake which burneth with fire and brimstone." 
— *'The wicked shall be turned into hell and 
all the nations that forget God/^ You notice 
they are not turned into the holy city, but 
into hell 1 Again, *^Then shall he say unto them 
on his left hand. Depart from me, ye cursed, 
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil 
and his angels/' 

*'0h! sinner, remember, though fair 

be life's day, 
There's only one step to the tomb; 
Thy life like a vapor will soon pass 

away. 
Then cometh eternity's gloom." 

On the other hand, the pure and righteous 
of all ages and nations will be there, for, ^'the 
King shall say unto them on his right hand. 
Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the 
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation 
of the world", and ^^many shall come from the 
east and west and shall sit down with Abra- 
ham, and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of 
heaven. ' ' 

II. The attractive features of the holy city 
are unsurpassed. 



42 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

I. The inhabitants are like little children. 
When the master wanted to make a supremely 
wise comparison, he took a little child up in 
his arms and said, '*0f such is the kingdom of 
heaven." And again, ** Jesus called a little 
child unto him, and set it in the midst of them 
and said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be 
converted, and become as little children, ye 
shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." 
When we think of the lessons of self-denial^ 
self-sacrifice, and patience which children have 
taught the world, we do not wonder that Christ 
took them up in his arms and said, **0f such 
is the kingd^lii-of heaven. ' ' The fact that little 
children will be in the majority in heaven, 
makes heaven very attractive to those who 
have some dear little one there, and tune their 
hearts to sing with the poet: 

''They tell of that beautiful city, 

The glorified home of the soul, 

Where the saints in their triumph are singing. 

The glory of God to extol. 

And high on hills of that country. 
Rolling far forever away, 
I see in the dreams of my fancy 
The forms of fair children at play. 

In fields that are fruited and fragrant 
And ripe with the riches of God, 
They gather in wreaths the white roses 
That spring from eternity's sod. 



THE HOLY CITY 43 

And one I am watching among them, 
With features transfigured and fair. 
Who will leap with joy at my coming, 
And crown me with ecstacy there. 

As once through earth's pastures he led me 
Where lightly the clover blooms waved. 
So over God's plains he shall lead me. 
Where blossom the souls of the saved. 

Forever and ever together 
Through fields of our father on high. 
We'll wander the highlands of heaven, 
My glorified darling and I.'* 

Lincoln, Garfield, Beecher and Moody were 
all lovers of Children. Theodore Parker said, 
**A child is better for the heart than a whole 
academy of philosophers," and it is said that 
Charles Dickens wrote the following lines and 
pnt them in an envelope to be read by his 
children after he was gone: 

"Children they are idols of hearts and of 

households, 
They are angels of God in disguises, 
His sunshine still sleeps in their tresses. 
His glory still beams in their eyes. 

Oh! those shouts from home and from heaven! 
They have made me more manly and mild, 
And I know how Jesus could liken 
The kingdom of God to a child." 



44 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

II. It is a city of praise. Manning has 
correctly said, ^^ Praise consists in the love of 
God. in wonder at the goodness of God, in rec- 
ognition of the gifts of God, in seeing God in 
all things he gives us, aye, and even in the 
things which he refuses to us; so as to see our 
whole life in the light of God; and seeing this, 
to bless him, adore him and glorify him.'' This 
praise, you may rest assured will not cease in 
the holy city, for, ^^ After this I beheld, and, lo, 
a great multitude, which no man could num- 
ber, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, 
and tongues, stood before the throne, and be- 
fore the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and 
palms in their hands; and cried with a loud 
voice saying. Salvation to our God which sit- 
teth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And 
all the angels stood round about the throne, 
and about the elders and the four beast, and 
fell before the throne on their faces, and wor- 
shiped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, 
and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. 
Amen.'' The time will come when men will 
see God as he is, and their souls will throb 
and burst forth with praise. Deep down in 
their souls they will sing, 



' ^ Praise God from whom all blessings flow ; 
Praise Him, all creatures here below ; 
Praise Him above ye heavenly host, 
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.*' 



THE HOLY CITY 45 

3. It is a city of universal and perfect love. 
In this world how changeful, hesitating, suspi- 
cious, and selfish, love is ! Today you take the 
triumphal entry into the hearts of men, but 
tomorrow they cry, ' * crucify him ' ' ; today they 
hand you a flower, but tomorrow a thorn; to- 
day they administer a balm, but tomorrow an 
ache ; today they bestow a blessing, tomorrow a 
curse ; today they bind you with cords of love, 
but tomorrow with fetters of iron. But in the 
holy city, love will not be of this kind. It will 
be perfect and eternal. There love is trium- 
phant ! 

The mightiest imagination cannot form a 
picture so exceedingly grand. We shall be 
like him and he is love. ** Beloved now are 
we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear 
what we shall be : but we know that, when He 
shall appear, we shall be like Him ; for we shall 
see Him as He is." Our love there will be like 
Kis! and, 

*^0h, for this love, let rocks and hills, 
Their lasting silence break. 
And all harmonious tongues. 
Their Saviour's praises speak." 

IV. It is an everlasting city. Earth's fair- 
est cities and most magnificent palaces do not 
abide. They crumble into dust, and are *4ike 
the chaff which the wind driveth away." **The 
voice of the Greek, so shrill in battle so musical 



46 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

in peace ; his gay activities, his energy, so often 
reviving from humiliation and ruin; his brush, 
his chisel-Alas, for all these! where are they? 
The beauty of Athens has sunk into dust. The 
wolves of Mount Taygetus howl in the dark 
among the broken stones of Sparta, and the 
splendor of Corinth is no more/^ As the spirit 
of Constantine ^^went forth with a wail the 
poor ghost of Imperial Power disappeared ; the 
last pulse of the Old Civilization of mankind 
broke with a feeble flutter from the dying 
heart of the East, and the great drama of the 
Roman Empire was at an end. '^ The world 
passeth away. 

But press this truth home to your own 
heart. Apply it not to Greece and Rome, but 
to your own sad experience. You retired at 
night with your possessions stored away, but 
ere morning came they went up in smoke. 
They spread their wings and flew away. You 
had a husband, who soothed your sorrows, 
shared your joys, loved you, and was ever a 
prop upon which you could safely lean — but 
he is gone ! You had a wife, who administered 
a balm to your aching heart, gilded your path- 
way with cheerfulness, was your dearest com- 
panion, and the pride of your heart — but she 
has gone out into the unseen! You had a 
mother, who stilled the tempest of wild and 
bitter agony that swept across your heart, but 
where is she now ? Gone ! You had a sweet 
blue-eyed sister, who never deserted you. 



THE HOLY CITY 47 

cheered you in time of trial, and hung clusters 
of flowers about you, but where is she — gone 
out into the unseen! You had a brother who 
loved you with all the wealth of his affection, 
but where is he? — Gone to explore the eternal 
future! You had a dear child to whom you 
looked for support in the decline of life, while 
passing down the hill, but where is it? — Out 
yonder in a baiik of flowers on the hillside! 
^^They have fled as the shadow and continue 
not.'' 

^^But oh, there's a home of eternal delight, 

Where the smlies on the faces of Chris- 
tians are bright. 

Where the angels of beauty, immortally 
bright. 

Are floating forever on pinions of white." 

V. Jesus is there and we shall see his face. 
Just before Jesus left his disciples, he gave 
them an assurance that they would be with him 
again. Indeed, he gave them one of the grand- 
est promises on record. *^Let not your heart 
be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in 
me. In my Father's house are many mansions: 
if it were not so I would have told you. I go 
to prepare a place for you. And if I go and 
prepare a place for you, I will come again, and 
receive you unto myself ; that where I am, there 
ye may be also." What myriads of souls have 
been cheered by these words since they were 
first uttered! In our Father's house it will 



48 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

not be the association of high angels, the water 
of life, the tree of life, or the jasper walls that 
will make us supremely happy. ' *'But oh, how 
transcendently glad shall we be when we shall 
see our Lord. Perhaps in that 'Upper room', 
also, he may show us his hands and his side, 
and we may cry out with happy Thomas, 'My 
Lord, and my God.' " To be in the holy city 
is to talk with Jesus about the hidden myster- 
ies, sit at his feet and know him as he is. Yes, 
the Lamb of God is there! Stephen said, ''Be- 
hold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of 
Man standing on the right hand of God." 

"Oh, heaven without my Saviour 

Would be no heaven to me; 
Dim were the walls of jasper — 

Rayless the crystal sea. 
He gilds earth's darkest valleys 

With light and joy and peace ; 
What then must be the radiance 

When night and death shall cease. ' ' 

We shall see his face. There is a common 
longing in the human heart to look upon the 
face of Jesus. Every christian has a longing 
to see someone who was present and can 
describe the expression on his face when he 
delivered the Sermon on the Mount, the expres- 
sion when he said, "Peace, be still," the expres- 
sion when he said, "Ye would not come to me 
that ye might have life," the expression when 



THE HOLY CITY 49 



7 > 



he said, **0f such is the kingdom of heaven, 
the expression when he said, '^Go sin no more, 
the expression when he said, ** Father, if it be 
possible, let this cup pass from me," the expres- 
sion when he said, ** Father, forgive them, they 
know not what they do," but oh, how much 
greater is the longing to look upon the glorified 
face. *^They shall see his face." John, the 
beloved disciple, wrote this passage upon the 
bare and rugged isle of Patmos. He seems to 
have reflected upon the past, and recalled the 
face he had seen so oft and longed to see it 
again, and gave vent to his feeling by reiter- 
ating the words of the Psalmist, **As for me, 
I will behold thy face in righteousness. I 
shall be satisfied when I wake with thy like- 



ness." 



There are many faces in heaven we shall 
be glad to see — the face of Moses, the face of 
Joshua, the face of David, the sweet singer of 
Israel, the face of Elijah, of John, of Paul, of 
Peter, and of great men like Knox, Luther, 
Campbell, Livingston, and all the other great 
men who devoted their lives to him who search- 
es the hearts of men and confers all needful 
wisdom and strength. I long to see the faces 
of friends and loved ones. I saw these faces 
as they glowed with health; saw them fade 
away in the pallor of death, and it will be a 
great day in my life when 1 shall see them 
again, but the greatest joy and the greatest 
glory will be to see the face of Jesus. Yes, 



50 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 



n 



There is a face at heaven's gate, 
A face I long to see ; 
Lingering by the jasper walls, 
And waiting there for me. 

There is a face at heaven's gate, 
With smile divine and kind 

For one who in this stormy world 
Is left awhile behind. 

There is a face at heaven's gate, 

It cheers me on my way, 
And is that morning star that shines. 

Before the wake of day." 

We shall see his face, ^*and looking back upon 
the sea that brought us thither, we shall 
behold its water flashing in the light of that 
everlasting morning, and hear them breaking 
into music upon the eternal shore. And then, 
brethren, when all the weary-night- watchers on 
the stormy ocean of life are gathered together 
around Him who watched with them from his 
throne on the bordering mountains of eternity, 
where the day shines forever — then he will seat 
them at his table in his kingdom, and none 
will need to ask, * Who art thou' or * Where am 
I'?, for all shall know it is the Lord: and the 
full, perfect, unchangeable vision of his blessed 
face will be the Holy City. 



fy 



The Name of Jesus 

1 — I 

Thou shalt call his name Jesus. 
Matt. 1: 21. 



I OR multiplied centuries the Jews had 
been looking for the Messiah, 
whom they thought would reign in 
_____^_____ David's place. They had fre- 
quently read such prophecies as, 
*^I will put enmity between thee and the wo- 
man, and between thy seed and her seed; it 
shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his 
heel;'* — '*In blessing I will bless thee, and in 
multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the 
stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon 
the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the 
gates of his enemies ; and in thy seed shall all 
the nations be blessed''; '^I will make thy seed 
to multiply as the stars of heaven, and I will 
give unto thy seed all these countries; and in 
thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be 
blessed;" '^The sceptre shall not depart from 
Judah, nor the law-giver from between his feet, 
until Shiloh come ; and unto him shall the gath- 



62 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

ering of the people be"; ** Behold, a virgin 
shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call 
his name Immanuel," and, ''But thou, Bethle- 
hem Ephratah, though thou be little among the 
thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he 
come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel ; 
whose goings forth have been from of old, from 
everlasting," and were anxiously looking for 
their fulfillment. 

The time came for these prophecies to be 
fulfilled, and the birth of him who was the ful- 
fillment of them was on this wise: **When as 
his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, be- 
fore they came together, she was found with 
child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph, her 
husband, being a just man, and not willing to 
make her a public example, was minded to put 
her away privily. But while he thought on 
these things, behold, the angel of the Lord ap- 
peared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, 
thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee 
Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in 
her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring 
forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. ' ' 

The conferring of this name on our Lord 
was not a mere accident, nor of the ordinary 
course of things. It was given by divine guid- 
ance. The angel who announced to his virgin 
mother that she was to be the most honored of 
women, in giving birth to the Son of God and 
the Saviour of men, intimated also to her the 
name by which the holy child was to be called ; 



THE NAME OF JESUS 5S 

* ' Thou shalt call his name Jesus. ' ' And it was 
probably the same heavenly messenger who ap- 
peared to Joseph, and, to remove his fears, and 
keep him from putting ' ' her away privily, ' ' said 
to him: *^That which is conceived in thy wife 
Mary is of the Holy Ghost : and she shall bring 
forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus. ' ' 
They were not disobedient to the heavenly vis- 
ion. The child was born, and **When eight 
days were accomplished for the circumcising of 
the child his name was called Jesus, which was 
so named of the angel before he was conceived 
in the womb.'' 

The name Jesus, like most Jewish proper 
names, was significant. Jesus means Saviour 
and when we think that this name is manifold, 
and meets every necessity, we, with the poet, 
pay him tribute: 

''All hail the power of Jesus 's name, 

Let angels prostrate fall; 
Bring forth the royal diadem 

And crown him Lord of all." 

Reolizing that the name Jesus is fraught 
with deep significance, and pregnant with mean- 
ing, let us inquire what are some of the charac- 
teristics of this *' Wonderful Appellation.'' 

I. It is above every name. *'God hath 
highly exalted him and given him a name that 
is above every name." 

As a physician is not his name above every 
name ? A woman who had been afflicted twelve 
years, and ^'had spent all her living upon phy- 



£4 STEPS UNTO HEAVE5N 

sieians, neither could be healed of any, came 
behind him, and touched the border of his gar- 
ment and immediately she was made whole." 

^'*Two blind men followed him, crying, and 
saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us. 
And when he was come into the house, the 
blind men came to him: And Jesus saith unto 
them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? 
They say unto him, Yea, Lord. Then he 
touched their eyes, saying, According to your 
faith be it unto you. And their eyes were 
healed." By word and touch he *^ healed all 
manner of diseases. ' ' Thus his name, as a phy- 
sician, is above every name. 

Is not his name, as a teacher, above every 
name? *'He went up into the mountain: and 
when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, 
saying. Blessed are the poor in spirit : for theirs 
is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they 
that mourn: for they shall be comforted* 
Blessed are the meek : for they shall inherit the 
earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and 
thirst after righteousness: for they shall be 
filled. Blessed are the merciful : for they shall 
obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: 
for they shall see God. Blessed are they which 
are persecuted for righteousness sake : for theirs 
is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when 
men shall revile you, and persecute you and 
shall say all manner of evil against you falsely 
for my sake." Unparalleled teaching! 



THE NAME OF JESUS 55 

Again, ''about the midst of the feast Jesus 
went up into the temple, and taught," and his 
teaching was so marvelous that it was said of 
him, ''Never man spake like this man" — "And 
straightway on the Sabbath day he entered 
into the synagogue and taught. And they were 
astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them 
Rs one having authority," and, because he thus 
taught, he stirred the heart and stimulated the 
mind of the pupil. 

The whole purpose of his teaching was to 
bring the will of man into harmony with the 
will of God. He used his scholarship to teach 
others how to live. He opened no school neither 
did he announce a course of study. "He is 
himself the great university of mankind, and 
every hungry soul becomes his pupil by the 
very fact of its hunger." 

The teaching of Jesus is not alone the words 
which he spoke; it is also the deeds which he 
did, and the example of his own life. He 
was recognized by the greatest minds of his 
own day to be the great religious teacher whose 
coming was to fulfill the ideal hopes of cen- 
turies. It was not his words only that gave them 
this belief; it was their embodiment in his acts 
and their illustration in his character. Jesus 
was sent by God to deliver a divine message to 
man — a message of life. He revealed religious 
truth which was to be not only accepted but 
lived. He not only told men what this divine 



56 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

truth was, but showed them by the life he 
lived. 

Indeed, his name is above every name ! In 
the striking language of another: '^Ah, when 
the obelisk of fame shall have been erected, on 
which the heroic characters of earth shall have 
their names inscribed, there on its very apex, 
in letters of burning light, let the name of Jesus 
stand, the supremest of all earth's greatness/' 

II. It is a precious name- It is precious be- 
cause it is the only name wherein we must be 
saved. **And in none other is there salvation. 
For neither is there any other name in heaven 
that is given among men wherein we must be 
saved.'' — How sublimely does the apostle, in 
those closing words shut up these rulers of Is- 
rael to Jesus for salvation, and in what univer- 
sal and emphatic terms does he hold up his 
Lord as the only Hope of men! If men are 
saved it will be in the name of Jesus. The 
angel annoimced that he should save the people 
from their sins, and the inspired man of God 
writes, ^* Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and 
thou shalt be saved." He '4s able to save to 
the uttermost all who come unto Grod by him." 
The Scriptures affirm that unto all who believe, 
his name is exceedingly precious. Yes, 

"There is a name I love to hear, 
I love to speak its worth; 
It sounds like music in mine ear. 
The sweetest name on earth. 



THE NAME OF JESUS 57 

It tells me of a Saviour's love. 
Who died to set me free; 
It tells me of his precious blood, 
The sinner's perfect plea. 

Jesus! the name I love so well. 
The name I love to hear! 
No saint on earth its worth can tell. 
No heart conceive how dear. 

This name shall shed its fragrance still, 
Along this thorny road: 
Shall sweetly smooth the rugged hill 
That leads me up to God." 

He is precious in his promises. They have 
been our stay in time of despondency. Many 
halting, hesitating, and discouraged disciples 
have taken courage at the, *'Lo, I am with you 
alway'' — ^'be'not dismayed, I will guide you, 
even unto the end. ' 

^'Oh, the precious name of Jesus; 

How it thrills my heart with joy, 
When his loving arms receive us, 

And his songs our tongues employ." 

in. Bis name is a conquering name. In the 
the ancient '^classic'' world, the people prac- 
ticed drunkenness, licentiousness, and many 
other deplorable sins. And these things were 
a part of their religion. One needs but a 
glance into the history of the Anti-Christian 
days to see that the benighted people were bar- 
barous and uncivilized. When Jesus came to^ 
this earth, it was wrapped in a great winding- 



m STEPS UNTO HEJAVBSN 

sheet of pagan darkness, '* except the little nar- 
row strip of Palestine, and even there God's 
own people had so far forsaken him that they 
had made his holy temple a den of thieves." 
Romans 3 : 10-18, discloses their deplorable and 
heart-breaking condition. There yon will find 
an awful picture of human depravity, but the 
name of Jesus conquered them. 

Before the Anglo-Saxon race heard the 
name of Jesus, they were * ^ semi-barbarous and 
half-civilized," but since they heard and re- 
ceived it, they have gone everywhere carrying 
education, refinement, culture, and lofty ideals. 
How do you account for this amazing change? 
This wonderful transformation? If you will 
but carefully look into the reason of the differ- 
ence between their '* first state and the last," 
you will find that the conquering name of Jesus 
played a grander part in bringing about this 
wonderful change, than all other things com- 
bined. ** Righteousness exalteth the nation, but 
sin is a reproach to any people." The history 
of countries and peoples testify to the truth- 
fulness of this passage of Scripture. Egypt, 
Greece, and Rome have gone down in their 
wickedness and shame, and their successors are 
the ** strong and glorious nations whose God is 
the Lord." 

Imagine yourself standing on an exceed- 
ingly *^high mountain from which you can see 
all the kingdoms of this world." Pick out the 
freB, enlightened, and happy countries, and 



THE NAME OF JESUS 69 

make of them one great world. Over against 
it place another world made up of the 
oppressed, dark, uncultivated, uncivilized, illit- 
erate, and unhappy countries. "What an awful 
contrast! Why this contrast? There can be 
but one answer. On one of them, the con- 
quering name of Jesus is ^'a well of water 
springing up into everlasting life," while on 
the other it is never heard. His name will con- 
quer when all else fails. It conquers nations 
and individuals. 

John B. Gough **was once a miserable 
drunkard ; about as near to hell as one can get 
this side, for he said he loved no one, and no 
one loved him. Indeed, he meditated suicide. 
He suffered from delerium tremens. He was a 
harness maker, and the leather clippings curled 
under his feet like snakes. The awl driven in 
one side, came out on the other a snake's head, 
with glittering eyes and forked tongue. No 
one thought he could be reformed. One night 
passing up the street of Worchester, a gentle- 
man overtook him, laid his hand on his shoulder 
and said, *Is that you, Mr. Gough?' He was 
greatly surprised, for nobody called him ^Mis- 
ter then', and turning about he looked into the 
face of a comparative stranger and saw an 
outstretched hand. He was surprised again, 
for but few people were in the habit of shaking 
his hand. The hand took hold with a gentle 
grip, and he was surprised again, for the few 
people who shook his hand, let go coldly and 



60 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

suddenly. Then the stranger began to picture 
the sunnier days of his life, and said, ^ Would 
you not like to live them all over again?' The 
tears started to his eyes, and he answered, 'Yes 
sir, yes sir, but I can't do it now, sir. These 
fetters are too strong, sir.' But the hand held 
on and the voice went on pleading, till the 
poor man was almost forced to promise to at- 
tend a temperance meeting and sign the pledge. 
He went away from that interview and took an- 
other drink, so completely was he under the 
dominion or rum. But next morning he was 
quite sober, and said to himself, 'I have been 
untrue to myself, to my wife and child, pre- 
maturely in the grave, to my good mother, and 
to ray God. For aught I know, no one cares 
for my soul now, except that man who pleaded 
with me last night. Shall I be untrue to him?' 
And so he kept sober that day, and went to 
the meeting; and with the hand, that had so 
often held the glass of poison, he signed the 
pledge, and stood up in his rags, and made his 
first temperance address, himself the best il- 
lustration of the awful ruin that rum will work. 
Loving arms had to be thrown around him for 
weary weeks, to keep him steady. But the 
touch of that friendly hand, and the conquer- 
ing name of Jesus in that pleading voice of 
one who cared for his soul, was salvation to 
John B. Gough, and salvation to thousands of 
drunkards all over the world. " 

Again — '* During the great famine in India 



THE NAME OF JESUS 61 

some years ago, one of our missionaries at Da- 
moth picked up a starving orphan boy one 
morning. His father and mother had died of 
starvation and his own body was reduced to 
a mere skeleton, and he was unable to walk. He 
was put with the other four hundred boys 
that had been picked up during the dreadful 
famine and carefully nursed back to strength. 
Damaru's ancestors were of the lowest class 
in India. They were beggars and outcast, but 
this boy was bright and began to make splen- 
did progress in the school. He developed into 
a broad-shouldered, muscular lad, and within a 
short time became a member of the church. In 
a few years he was president of the great 
Christian Endeavor Society at Damoth, and 
then he decided to become a minister of the 
gospel. He was sent to our Bible College in 
India, and graduated wdth honors. He was a 
poor, little starving skeleton that morning when 
the missionary picked him up. He did not look 
very promising, but the influence of the God- 
sent missionaries, the church and the Bible Col- 
lege, has made of him a splendid evangelist and 
preacher. This is the kind of work our mission- 
aries are doing, and this incident certainly 
answers the question as to whether or not the 
name of Jesus is a conquering name. 

My friend, every time you breathe, the 
name of Jesus is conquering somewhere ; every 
time your heart beats, the name of Jesus is 
conquering somewhere; yea, more than this; 



02 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

every time your watch ticks, the name of Jesus 
is conquering somewhere and somehow. And 
we are told that ** at the name of Jesus every 
knee shall bow, of the things in heaven and 
the things on earth and things under the earth, 
and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus 
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father/' 

*^At the name of Jesus bowing. 
Falling prostrate at his feet. 

King of Kings in heaven will crown Him, 
When aur journey is complete.'' 

rV. It is a comforting name, Jesus is 
acquainted with the needs of human life, and 
knows full well our need of a comforter. While 
he was on the earth, he supplied this need in 
the person of himself, and when it became nec- 
essary for him to leave the earth, he promised 
to send another comforter. This promise was 
fulfilled, and when the comforter came he gave 
us seasons of refreshments from the presence 
of the Lord. Oh, how the name of Jesus com- 
forts the darkened and troubled soul. The 
poor widow of Nain had lost her only sori. 
The Master *s eye saw her furrowed brow, he 
saw the streaming tears, he heard the tempest 
of sorrow blowing across her troubled breast, 
and with a voice which must have trembled 
with compassion, said unto her, ^^weep not." 
In his name she found comfort. He came 
from among the everlastingly redeemed to 



THE NAME OF JESUS # 

this earth and stands by the bedside of the 
languishing; by the penitent murderer; in the 
cell of the condemned criminal; by the side 
of the lonely ^'Homeless Wanderer''; by the 
small white coffin which contains mother's darl- 
ing; by the ''Silent Sea", and say, ''Look to me 
I am the God of all comfort." His name to 
the heart means inexpressible comfort. 

On Wednesday, December 29, 1897, F. H. 
Lemon went to the Altoona Cemetery to say 
good-bye again to the grave of his darling 
Odessa. The trackless snow, pure and white, 
had drifted deep over the mound. There he 
knelt in the deep snow and thanked God that 
he had given him the companionship of so 
noble a woman for a short time. His heart 
was sad, his home was broken and there as 
his face was bathed in tears, he thanked God 
for the comforting name of Jesus, and promised 
him that he would try and be good and pure 
and would meet her in the heavenly land. He 
seemed to hear her sweet, familiar voice sing- 
ing, as in happy days gone by, 

"Oh, the joy that there awaits me,. 

When I reach the golden shore, 
When I grasp the hands of loved ones, 

To part with them no more." 

V. It is an enduring 7iame, Infidels and 
other enemies say that the name of Jesus can- 
not be permitted to remain on the earth. That 



64 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

it must go. On the other hand, there are mil- 
lions of his followers who vow that it will 
abide even at the cost of their lives. Some 
years ago an infidel said, ^'In fifty years the 
influence of Jesus Christ will be erased from 
the earth." But let the same infidel attempt 
to erase Christ from history, and art, and he 
will soon discover that he has a ** great stono 
to chisel away and a very dull chisel." 

Think what one would be compelled to do 
before he could blot Jesus out of history. He 
would be compelled to destroy all prophecy 
and history written before he was born. Moses, 
David, Isaiah, and Daniel wrote about him. 
They told of his birth, his suffering, his trial, 
the words he uttered on the cross, his ** parted 
vesture", and many other things about him 
hundreds of years before he came to the earth. 

Again — to destroy the name of Jesus on 
earth, one would be compelled to destroy everv 
Bible on the face of the earth. Go among the 
ice and snow covered Alps, and bring forth 
the precious old Bible that the Christians lost 
there while fleeing from the heartless Eoman 
Catholics! Go to the *'City of the Dead" and 
bring forth the old Book that was hidden when 
the Christians were persecuted by the Roman 
Emperors! The lonely missionary in India 
has the old Book. Go gather every copy of 
it and let the enemy apply the torch. Bum 
them! Is his name gone when the flames di<» 
away? Not so! Send out the host of Bible- 



THE NAME OF JESUS 65 

haters, and let them destroy all the histories, 
commentaries, printed sermons, religious liter- 
ature of all kinds, dates, and every trace of 
Jesus' name on paper. Have they blotted his 
name out? No! Look at the houses of wor- 
ship. There are enough of them, if placed to- 
gether, to make a city more magnificent than 
Paris. Go on the inside of the houses of wor- 
ship, and on the walls we see *' Jesus". Accum- 
ulate all these houses, pictures, and Bibles and 
pile them five miles high. **Let infidels laugh 
as the flames shoot towards the stars, but the 
name of Jesus has not been erased from the 
earth." **Let the palaces and temples oura, 
we have Jesus left." In hearts he lives un- 
hurt. His name will live on, 

** Unhurt amidst the war of elements, 
The wreck of matter, and the crash of 
worlds." 

Friend, will you put your soul in his care ? 
Will you conform your will to his? Will y^u 
conform your life to your Savior's demands? 
Will you trust him who is able to keep you 
from falling? Will you take into your heart 
his matchless name? 

**Take the name of Jesus with you, 
Child of sorrow and of woe ; 

It will joy and comfort give you, 
Take it, then, where'er you go." 




William Henry Cord 

i — i 

"They that, be teachers shall shine a» the 
brightness of the firmament and they that lead 
many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for- 
ever and ever.* 

Dan. 12 : 3. 

N THIS LIFE, there are many sad 

duties which each of us have to 

perform, and as such, I deliver 

this message in commemoration of 

the life and service of one very 

dear to us all, and especially dear to me, and 

in the death of whom I suffer a great personal 

loss. 

It is needless for me to say that I enter on 
this duty with trembling. I tremble because 
I feel that my talents are inadequate to the 
occasion, and that my strongest efforts, to do 
justice to his fragrant name, will be a failure. 
I know, however, that I am surroimded by 



♦Note — This address was delivered at Salt Lick., 
Ky., Sunday morning, April 10, 1910, and is here given 
substantially as spoken by the author of this book. 

66 • ' 



WILLIAM HENRY CORD 91 

many of those who love him, and who will say 
in their hearts many things which I must leave 
unsaid. 

While I speak to you today, the body of 
William Henry Cord is lying honored and 
loved, in a near-by city, and we cherish the 
inspiring hope that his soul is with Christ in 
the mansions prepared for those who love him ; 
that that undying soul, made white as snow 
by the blood of the Lamb, is now among the 
redeemed of all nations, and peoples, and 
tongues, and enjoying the fruits of its labors in 
the full glory of that life which shall never 
end. 

Having been his ^* Timothy in the faith^\ 
as he once expressed it, for nearly five yec.rs, 
I feel that I know him, and, therefore, I wish 
to speak today of him as a preacher, as a 
teacher, and as a Christian man. 

As a preacher and pastor, but few of his 
superiors have been among us. He made the 
church's problems and troubles his own, and 
their joys his joys. He always had a cheer- 
ful word for the distressed of his congrega- 
tion, and did all in his power to make men and 
women truer, better, and nobler in the work of 
the Master. He gathered strong men about 
him; organized them, and disposed of his 
forces to the best strategic advantage, but he 
lead in every charge — by word and example. 
For the church, he set the spiritual standard 
high, and clung close to the Word of God. His 






68 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

sermons were clear, forcible and convincing. 
His methods were simply careful thought and 
preparation, and then tireless, enthusiastic, ag- 
gressive work. He knew no such word as 
fail, and if he became discouraged but few 
people knew it. 

He, like the Apostle Paul, preached Jesus 
Christ and him crucified. Standing on this 
very platform, he raised his strong right arm, 
pointed towards Golgotha" and said, 
Friends, look yonder at Calvary! Look at 
your dying Saviour! Look at that crown of 
thorns! Look at his pierced hands and feet — 
torn and bleeding ! Look at his pierced side I 
Look at * Christ crucified' for the sins of the 
world ! For your sins and mine ! WHY ? 
Because he loved us ! Behold that awful scene 
of blood and dying ! Behold your loving Sav- 
iour ! " And then with tears winding their way 
down his cheeks, he added, **If that scene will 
not draw men and women unto him, my words 
are in vain." 

His manner in the pulpit, whether of ac- 
tion or utterance, indicated deep earnestness. 
His style was so plainly marked by this attri- 
bute, that even a child could not fail to see 
it. The points of his sermons were always 
carefully chosen, satisfactorily argued, and 
clearly illustrated. 

His reverence for God's house was self- 
evident. He knew that a reverence was due 
the holy place; recognized the presence of 



WILLIAM HENRY CORD GO 

God, and contended that the things of the 
world ought not find entrance. When he 
entered the house which had been dedicated to 
the Lord, he felt that the charge given to 
Moses had its meaning for him: *^Put off thy 
shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon 
thou standest is holy ground.'^ He condemned 
very strongly the irreverence with which so 
many thoughtless people entered the church — 
the sacred place where God meets man. While 
drawing near to God in the church, he desired 
to be drawn yet closer towards Him in faith 
and love. How great was his reverence for his 
Father's house! 

He contended '^earnestly for the faitli 
which was once for all delivered unto the 
saints." Lovingly and convincingly, he de- 
clared that no faith or revelation was to super- 
sede it. He knew that unswerving fidelity to 
this faith was a duty which he owed, not only 
to himself, but to the Church and tiie world. 
And on the ground of truth and justice he 
fearlessly defended it. 

But great as he was as a preacher aud 
pastor, he was greater as a teacher. 1'hose of 
you who were present on the night that I 
introduced him as the one who had come to 
deliver the message of life, recall that he said 
of himself, ^'I am a teacher — ^not a preacher." 

He had a thorough and fresh knowledge 
of the subject taught. This he conceded to be 
an essential condition of successful instruct idu. 



70 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

This won our confidence, awakened interest, 
and held our attention. By the clearness, accur- 
acy, and fullness of his instruction he won the 
high esteem of more than five thousand young 
men and young women who attended his clas- 
ses, most of whom are living lights in the world. 

How patient he was ! No matter how i)Oor 
our efforts were, if they were our best, he 
would patiently and kindly lead us to our tis^t 
statement of the facts we were to recite. He, 
like Jesus, was always patient with the honest 
learner. No word fell unguarded or impatient- 
ly from his lips. Surely his morning prayer 
was, ** Heavenly Father, help me to be patient 
today; gentle with my pupils, to make them 
better for having lived among them this day; 
may I not, in an unguarded moment, utter an 
impatient sentence to any of them; may I *in 
patience' possess my soul.'' 

Professor Cord was our counselor. When 
the problems of life were too difficult for us, 
we took them to him. We always found him 
willing and able to help us. We learned to 
lean upon him in the critical turns of life, and 
he counseled us with the tender solicitude of 
a father. We knew that, in him, we had a wise 
counselor, who had our best interests at heart. 
He watched with diligence over us, studied 
closely our individual needs, and adapted his 
counsel accordingly. 

The love that he had for us was one of the 
greatest attributes which distinguished him as 



WILLIAM HENRY CORD 71 

a teacher. He loved the obedient boy, and 
linked himself to the wayward with the same 
true affection. His great loving heart knew 
our hearts! With love his school was made a 
home- His love was so true that it took hold 
of the pupil's future, and saw even in the 
thoughtless and erring the possibility of a noble 
man or woman. This love lifted up the fallen, 
carried light into darkened spirits, and in- 
spired the soul to greater efforts. 

And yet it is not my whole purpose to 
speak of him as a preacher and pastor, and 
as a teacher, for, he was far greater as a 
Christian man. 

One thing in his character which the 
observer could not fail to see was his faith in 
Christ and his willingness to be lead by him. 
This faith was not born in one day. It was a 
Jife-long faith. How truly does the grand ol.i 
hymn express his implicit trust in the Lord' 

"It may not be on the mountain's height 

Or over the stormy sea; 

It may not be at the battle's front 

My Lord will have need of me; 

But if, by a still, small voice. 

He calls to patbs I do not know, 

I'll answer: 'Dear Lord, with my hand in 

Thine' 
I'll go where you want me to go." 

Perhaps today there are loving words. 
Which Jesus would have me speak; 
There may be now in the paths of sin 



72 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

Some wanderer whom I should seek; 
O Saviour, if Thou wilt be my guide; 
Tho' dark and rugged the way. 
My voice shall echo the message sweet, 
I'll say what you want me to say. 

There's surely somewhere a lowly place 

In earth's harvest field so wide, 

Where I may labor thro' life's short day, 

For Jesus the Crucified; 

So, trusting my all to Thy tender care, 

And knowing Thou lovest me, 

I'll do Thy will with a heart sincere, 

I'll be what you want me to be." 



Another trait of his character which 1 
greatly admired was his Christian courage. 
x\rrayed in the whole armor of God, he went 
forth in defense of right. He stood for the 
right, and had Christian courage to express his 
honest convictions. Wherever sin reared its 
ugly head, he stood ready to strike it down. 
He saw no place in the kingdom of God for a 
moral coward. His voice rose boldly against 
an}^ evil that might rise in the community, 
town, or city. With drawn sword, he rushed 
forward to do his part in the army of right- 
eousness. He had courage to do right. Christ- 
like courage! And this courage lead him to 
stand firm on conscientious principles, and 
made him faithful to truth and right. He never 
compromised with what he believed to be 
wrong. 



WILLIAM HENRY CORD 73 

'*It went against his heart; 
He could not do it/' 

This leads me to Paul's description of a 
Christian soldier as given in the sixth chapter 
of the letter to the Ephesians: '^Finally, my 
brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the 
poAver of his might. Put on the whole armour 
of God, that ye may be able to stand against 
the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not 
against flesh and blood, but against princi- 
palities, against powers, against the rulers of 
the darkness of this world, against spiritual 
wickedness in high places. Wherefore take 
unto you the whole armour of God, that ye 
may be able to withstand in the evil day, and 
having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, 
having your loins girt about with truth, and 
having on the breastplate of righteousness; 
and your feet shod with the preparation of 
the gospel of peace; above all, take the shield 
of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench 
all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the 
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, 
which is the word of God : praying always with 
all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and 
watching thereunto with all perseverance and 
supplication for all saints; and for me, that I 
may open my mouth boldly, to make known 
the mystery of the gospel, for which 1 am an 
ambassador in bonds : that therein I may speak 
boldly, as I ought to speak.'' 



74 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

Not one piece of this glorious armor did 
"William H. Cord fail to put on. 

Thus arrayed in the whole armor of Grod, 
and with the energy of a tireless worker, he 
went about always performing Christian ser- 
vice. The thought came to him that the only 
way to serve God was to serve man. This he 
began by serving the ''school-boy." Like the 
greatest of servants, his whole life affords an 
example of service. Indeed, he took upon him- 
self the form of a servant. Being like his 
Master, he proclaimed the wonderful truth, 
*'The Son of man came not to be ministered 
unto, but to minister." When he entered the 
ranks under the banner of Jesus Christ, he be- 
gan a life of service. This service consisted 
in doing things for the betterment of human- 
ity — training young men and young women for 
life's duties and life's responsibilities. And 
I say unto you that no higher type of Chris- 
tian service could he have rendered ! How full 
of useful service was his exceedingly active 
life! Yea, he served heroicaly up to the very 
moment that the angel of the Lord hovered over 
him and whispered the summons of departure ! 

The closing scene of his life came with a 
tremendous shock. He died suddenly and un- 
expectedly. In a moment, before friends could 
gather to witness the last scene, to say good- 
bye, he was numbered with the dead. As swiftly 
as morning light, his spirit ''glided into the 
company of the great and mightly angels, 



^BiKiiHMiiMialBiiMAHHtiHIiii^ 



WILLIAM HENRY CORD 75 

passed into the dread light and amazement of 
eternity, learned the great secret, and gazed 
upon the wonderful splendors of the eternal 
world." 

With what bewilderment do we stand as 
a man falls at our feet stricken down by an 
Almighty hand in the early years of his 
greatest usefulness! Why, in the providence 
of God, should he be taken while so many who 
are seemingly less useful remain ? Why should 
this devoted husband, affectionate father, faith- 
ful preacher, tactful teacher, and consecrated 
christian be thus taken? It is one of the things 
that passeth human understanding. We now 
see through a glass darkly, but '^some day 
we'll understand." 

And may all those who have been stricken 
so sorely be made to feel that the Lord doeth 
all things well, that the Lord God almighty is 
their great Comforter, and their Stay. In these 
hours of sadness, may they feel that there is 
no one to whom they can go but their God. And 
may they hear the great voice, as never before, 
rolling down through the ages, **Come unto me 
all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I 
will give you rest. 



>> 



4* 



Come unto me when shadows darkly gather, 
When the sad heart is weary and distrest. 
Seeking for comfort from your heavenly 
Father, 
Come unto me and I will give you rest! 



/ 



76 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

Ye who have mourned when the spring flowers 
were taken. 
When the ripe fruit fell richly to the ground. 
When the loved slept, in brighter homes were 
waken. 
Where their pale brows with spirit,wreaths 
are crowned. 

Large are the mansions in the Father's dwelling, 
Glad are the homes that sorrows never dim; 

Sweet are the harps in holy music swelling, 
Soft are the tones which raise the heavenly 
hymn. 

There, like an Eden blossoming in gladness, 
Bloom the fair flowers that earth too rudely 
passed; 

Come unto me, all ye who droop in sadness, 
Come unto me and I will give you rest." 




God's Will Concerning Sinners 



The Lord is not willing that any should perish, 

but that all should come to repentance. 

II. Peter 3 : 9. 

OD has always stood in a friendly at- 
titude toward the sinner, and has 
made it possible for him to turn 

and live. He is not willing that 

any should perish. In his great 
wisdom and power he stretches opportunity of 
repentance to its utmost limit. He does not 
desire that any, yea, even that the scoffers, 
should perish. He gives warning after warn- 
ing, until the utter hopelessness of any further 
warning is made quite plain, and the cup of 
self-willedness and iniquity is quite full. Of 
course, God cannot save the sinner if he will 
not repent. It is impossible. *^Sin is damna- 
tion, and if man will go everlastingly in sin, 
he will be everlastingly lost." That it is 
not God's will that the sinner should perish 
is proved by what he has done to save him. 
I. He has thrown about him innumerable 
christianizing influences, 

77 



78 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

1. The greatest influence that God uses 
to save the sinner is the BIBLE. Our own 
Herbert Moninger, in writing of the Bible's 
influence upon the world said, '^ *By their 
fruits ye shall know them', is the safest foun- 
dation for judgment ever laid down. If you 
draw a line around the countries where the 
greatest freedom is enjoyed and the highest 
civilization flourishes, you will find that you 
have included the countries where the people 
believe in Christianity, and exclude those where 

it has very little or no influence. Wherever 
the Bible has gone it has sweetened the home, 
exalted womanhood, sanctified the cradle and 
redeemed man.'' It was the influence of the 
Bible alone that has raised womanhood to such 
a lofty elevation. President Angell, of Michi- 
gan University, said; '^The attention of the 
traveler is strikingly arrested by the surpris- 
ing contrast in the position accorded to woman 
in christian and non-christian countries. Often 
as I contemplated the wretched lot of women 
in Asia did the pathetic words in which Goethe 
makes Ephignia pour forth her pathetic plaint 

spring to my lips : * The condition of woman is 
lamentable.' Those words might be inscribed 
as an appropriate inscription on the gates of 
cities and on the door-posts of the houses in the 
eastern world. Woman is doomed in ignorance. 
She is the slave and drudge of man. Her mind 
is not deemed worthy of cultivation. I know 
of nothing in all the east so painful to the view 



GODS WILL CONCERNING SINNERS It 

of men from a Christian land as the condition 
of woman.'* It is only where the Bible has 
gone that woman is recognized as a companion 
of man, and the only difference between the 
women in India, China, Africa, and other de- 
graded countries, and the women of America, 
is that which the Bible makes. The Bible 
purifies nations and saves them from hell ! Not 
only is this true of nations: it is true of the 
individual. He does not get very far on the 
path of sin before he is confronted by the 
sacred influence of the Holy Bible. With its 
warnings, with its invitations, with its pictures 
of God and his love, it stands as a great influ- 
ence for good. A single verse of its inspired 
contents has frequently turned the individual 
from the error of his way. Hundreds of men 
have been turned to God by, ^^The wages of 
sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life 
through Jesus Christ our Lord, ' * and thousands 
of men have been turned out of the path of 
sin by, '^Prepare to meet thy God.'' 



"Holy Bible book divine, 
Precious treasure, thou are mine. 
Mine to tell me whence I came, 
Mine to tell me what I am; 

Mine to chide me when I rove, 
Mine to show a Saviour's love, 
Mine thou art to guide and guard, 
Mine to punish or reward; 



80 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

Mine to comfort in distress, 
Suffering in this wilderness, 
Mine to show by living faith, 
Man can triumph over death; 

Mine to tell of joys to come, 
And the rebel sinner's doom. 
Oh, thou holy book divine, 
Precious treasure, thou art mine." 

2. Another wonderful influence that God 
has thrown around the sinner to save him is, 
the influence of a christian mother. Aside from 
the Bible, there is no power in the world so 
potent for good as a christian mother's influ- 
ence. The mother has an influence over the 
child's early life that none but a mother can 
have. A Scottish proverb that is frequently 
quoted says, ^*An ounce of mother is worth a 
pound of clergy," and it is true. In the world's 
broad field of activity there are many callings 
in which the woman can make her life count 
for much towards making the world happier, 
better, and more Christlike. She may teach 
school, she may write books, she may go to the 
mission field and do errands of mercy, but she 
can make her life count for most in the home. 
Her influence, in the home, is mightier than 
swords in shaping the destiny of nations. In 
the home, worthy men and women are trained 
for the world's needs. Hannah, the mother of 
Samuel, led the child to the Lord. John the 
Baptist had a noble mother in Elizabeth. There 



GOD'S WILL CONCERNING SINNERS 81 

was only one person on earth that Napoleon 
Bonaparte obeyed, and that was his mother. 
One time he was asked what he considered the 
greatest need of France and his answer was, 
**AVhat Prance needs is more good mothers." 
Brandt said, *'The first twenty years of my 
life was spent in the presence of a christian 
mother, and her influence has always been 
before me, as a restraint from doing wrong, 
and to help to encourage me in doing right." 
Throughout life, the influence of a christian 
mother is an inspiration. One might as well 
try to blot out the sun ! It is to be treasured 
and cherished as one of the richest and rarest 
blessings. 

G. C. Lorimer said, '*I do not know what 
you feel, but I always like to find out what 
were the influences which tended to form the 
religious character in man; and an over- 
whelming majority of cases I find a convert 
saying: 'I can never forget the day when my 
mother laid her hands on my head and tried to 
teach me to say, ^Our Father which art in 
heaven.' Someone asked, ^ Under whose 
preaching were you converted?' ^I was con- 
verted,' was the reply, * under my grandmoth- 
er's influence.' " 

^^ During our Civil War one of our poor 
lads was seriously wounded. His mother has- 
tened to the camp and tried to see him. The 
doctor said, ^No woman is admitted to the 
tent.' But she said, 'A nurse is going in.' 'She 



82 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

is a stranger/ ^replied the doctor; but if you 
his mother, go in, he will get excited, and it 
will be injurious/ 'Well, then, let me stay 
outside the tent, where I can hear all that goes 
on.' So, dear soul, she sat there hour after 
hour, till the night and the day passed. Then, 
hearing that the boy was sleeping, she asked to 
be allowed to go in and just touch her lad. She 
put her hand very softly on his brow, when 
there came the murmur upon the boy's lips, 
'Mother!' Do you know, that subtle power 
that the boy himself recognized symbolizes to 
me that deeper power by which the mother's 
influence follows her lad wherever he goes, 
though he may be at the uttermost ends of the 
earth? There will rise before him your face, 
there will come the touch of your spiritual 
hand, and in some solemn moment upon his 
knees before God he will give his heart to God. 
By and by he v/ill be asked in heaven how he 
came there, and he will reply, 'Through my 
mother-' " 

3. God has thrown the influence of kind- 
ness around the sinner to save him. Mrs. 
Hedgeman says: ''I expect to pass through 
this life but once. If, therefore, there be any 
kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do 
to any fellow being, let me do it now. Let me 
not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this 
way again," and Faber has well said that, 
*' kindness has converted more sinners than 
either zeal, eloquence or learning." 



GOD'S WILL. CONCERNING SINNERS 88 

Once T read a story written by R. A. Tor- 
rey, Superintendent of the Moody Bible Insti- 
tute, Chicago, which impressed me more deeply 
than any story I ever read along the same line. 
A christian lady, as I recall the story, was 
standing in a window which opened on Bleecher 
Street, New York. A degraded drunkard came 
down the street. He had been mayor of a 
Southern city, but had gone to ruin through 
drink. He was an outcast. He had made up 
his mind to commit suicide. He started to the 
river, and as he walked down Bleecher Street, 

he turned into a public house and asked for a 
drink. He told the bar-keeper that he had no 
money to pay for it, and the *' red-nosed mons- 
ter'' came around from behind the bar and 
kicked him out into the gutter. The christian 
woman, looking out of the window, saw the 
poor wretch picking himself up out of the gut- 
ter, and crossed over and wiped the mud off 
his face with her handkerchief, and said, 
^*Come over in there. It is warm and bright 
and you will be welcome. '^ He went over and 

sat down behind the stove. His heart was 
touched. The spark of humanity was fanned 
into a flame, and he rose to real manhood once 
more. Finally he was made manager of one 
of the largest publishing houses in New York 
City. One day he came to the christian lady 
who showed him the little kindness and said, 
**I have some friends down at the hotel. I 
want you to meet them.'' She went to the 



84 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

hotel, and he introduced her to his wife and 
daughter. They were refined cultured ladies 
whom he had left and gone down to the very- 
verge of hell. Eandness saved him! 

''Do a kindness, do it well; 
Angels will the story tell. 

Do a kindness, tell it not; 
Angels hands will mark the spot. 

Do a kindness, though 'tis small; 
Angel voices sing it all. 

Do a kindness, never mind! 
What you lose the angels find! 

Do a kindness, do it now; 
Angels know it all somehow. 

Do a kindness any time; 
Angels weave it into rhyme. 

Do a kindness, it will pay; 
Angels will rejoice that day. 

Kindly deeds and thoughts and words 
Bless the world like songs of birds.*' 

4. God has thrown the influence of the 
cross around the sinner to save him. A back- 
ward look of nineteen hundred and eleven 
years will bring sinners to the cross on which 
their Saviour is dying. They gather around 
it. On that cross hangs a man, the Son of Man, 



GODS WILL. CONCERNING SINNERS 86 

the Son of God. On that cross hangs Jesus of 
Nazareth. On that cross hangs the best friend 
they ever had. They look upon the wounds, 
they see the stripes, they behold the mock 
crown, and are shocked at the thrusting of the 
Roman spear into the Saviour ^s heart, and the 
stream of mingled blood and water which 
gushed forth. They shudder at the driving of 
iron spikes through his hands and feet. They 
watch him bear the excruciating pain, and deep 
down in their hearts a ^* still small voice'' 
whispers, *^He was despised, and rejected of 
men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with 
grief: and as one from whom men hid their 

face he was despised; and we esteemed him 
not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and 
carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him 
stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But 
he was wounded for our transgressions, he 
was bruised for our iniquities; the chastise- 
ment of our peace was upon him ; and with his 
stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have 
gone astray; we have turned everyone to his 
own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the 
iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, yet 
when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth ; 

as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as 
a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so 
he opened not his mouth. By oppression and 
judgment he was taken away; aad as for his 
generation, who among them considered that 
he was cut off out of the land of the living 



86 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

for the transgressions of my people to wh^rn 
the stroke was due. And they made his grave 
with the wicked, and with the rich man in his 
death; although he had done no violence, 
neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it 
pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put 
him to grief; when thou shalt make his soul 
an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he 
shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of 
Jehovah shall prosper in his hand. He shall 
see the trivail of his soul, and shall be satis- 
fied: by the knowledge of himself shall my 
righteous servant justify many; and he shall 
bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him 
a portion with the great and he shall divide the 
spoil with the strong; because he hath poured 
out his soul unto death, and was numbered with 
the transgressors: yet he bare the sins of 
many, and made intercession for the transgres- 
sors." 

*'Lord, as to Thy dear cross we flee 
And pray to be forgiven, 
So let Thy life our pattern be, 
And form our souls for heaven." 

5. The hope of life beyond the grave is 
another influence which GOD throws around 
the siimer to save him. The weeping mother 
receives the baby's farewell kiss, and the lit- 
tle sufferer raises his little white hands, em- 
braces and kisses the angel that has come to 



GOD'S WILL CONCERNING SINNERS S7 

take him home. The angel takes him up in 
strong arms and carries him up through the 
starry regions to the home of God's jewels, and 
puts him down at the eternal gateway. That 
mother knows that her darling lives beyond the 
grave. She knows that beyond this life her 
child lives forever. Yes, there are, 

'^Beautiful hands at the gateway tonight, 
Faces all shining with radiant lights 
Eyes looking down from yon heavenly home, 
Beautiful hands that are beckoning come. 

Beautiful hands of a little one, see! 
Baby voice calling, O mother, to thee! 
Rosy-cheeked darling, the light of our home — 
Taken so early — is beckoning come.'* 

Oh, ye tired mothers, look up to God! ** Where- 
fore, lift up the hands which hang down, and 
the feeble knees, and make straight paths for 
your feet, lest that which is lame be turned 
out of the way, but let it rather be healed.'' 
*'Why art thou cast do^vn. Oh, my soul, and 
why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou 
in God, for I shall yet praise him who is the 
health of my countenance and my God. ' ' 

"Then why should I dream of the earthly abode. 
Of humanity clothed in the brightness of God? 
Where my spiric but turned from the outward 

and dim. 
It could gaze even now on the presence of him." 



88 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

Paul was convinced that there was life 
beyond the grave. When about to leave the 
world, he stretched his eyes across the river 
of death and said, ^^I have fought a good 
fight, I have finished my course, I have kept 
the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me 
a crowTi of righteousness, which the Lord, 
the righteous judge, shall give me on that 
day. ' ' 

Job asked the question, ^'If man die shall 
he live again?'' If he should come to the 
earth today and answer his o^vq question, he 
w^ould be heard to say : 

**There's a home in the skies where the weary will 

rest, 
A glorious home in the land of the blest; 
There tears will be wiped from the sorrowful eye, 
And the broken heart will forget to sigh. 

From earth, such a barren and desolate waste, 
We may long too, to that happier world to haste. 
For though this planet seems lovely and gay, 
Like shadows, its pleasures are passing away. 

No pestilence rides on the wings of the air. 
No wave of affliction or sorrow is there; 
In darkness that region shall never be furled. 
For the smile of the Lord is the light of that 
world.*' 



Doing the Greater Works 



Believe me that I am in the Father, and 
the Father in me : or else believe me for the 
very works sake. Verily, verily, I say unto 
you, He that believeth on me, the works that 
I do shall he do also ; and greater works than 
these shall he do ; because I go unto the Father. 

Jno. 14 : 11-12. 

HE personal ministry of Jesus was 
given largely to setting forth the 
proof that he was the Messiah, the 
Son of Grod. The great miracles he 
wrought while on earth were for 
the benefit of humanity, and to prove his 
divinity. He wrought no miracle for the sake 
of miracle ; to attract attention ; to be seen of 
men ; nor merely because he could do so, but 
that men might believe. ^^And many other 
signs truly did Jesus, in the presence of his 
disciples, which are not written in this book: 
but these are written that ye might believe that 
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of G-od, and that 
believing ye might have life through his name.'' 




90 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

When Christ said, **He that believeth on 
me, the works that I do shall he do also/' he 
was, beyond a doubt, speaking to his disciples, 
assuring them that they should do works sim- 
iliar to those v/hich he had done, or in other 
words — perform miracles similiar to those 
which he had performed. 

I. Let us notice some of the works which 
Jesus did. 

He opened the eyes of the blind. *'Two 
blind men followed him, crying out, and say- 
ing, Have mercy on us, thou Son of David. 
And when he was come into the house, the 
two blind men came to him: and Jesus saith 
unto them. Believe ye that 1 am able to do 
this? They say unto him. Tea, Lord. Then he 
touched their eyes, saying. According to your 
faith be it done unto you. And their eyes were 
opened." 

He cast out demons. ' * And straightway on 
the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue 
and taught. And they were astonished at his 
teaching: for he taught them as having author- 
ity, and not as the scribes. And straightway 
there was in their synagogue a man with an 
unclean spirit: and he cried out, saying. What 
have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Nazarene ? 
art thou come to destroy us ? I know thee who 
thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus re- 
buked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come 
out of him. And the unclean spirit, tearing 



DOING THE GREATER WORKS 91 

him and crying with a loud voice, came out 
of him." 

He healed the sick. * * And when Jesus was 
come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's 
mother lying sick of fever. And he touched her 
hand, and the fever left her; and she arose 
and ministered unto him." 

He healed the man with the withered hand. 
Jesus *'went into their synagogue: and behold, 
a man having a withered hand. And they 
asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the 
Sabbath day? that they might accuse him. And 
he said unto them. What man shall there be 
of you, that shall have one sheep, and if this 
fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he 
not lay hold on it and lift it out? How much 
then is a man of more value than a sheep ! 
"Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the 
Sabbath. Then saith he to the man, stretch 
forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; 
and it was restored whole, as the other. ' ' 

He raised the dead. **And when he had 
thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Laza- 
rus, come forth. And he that was dead came 
forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes ; 
and his face was bound with a napkin. Jesus 
said unto them, Loose him and let him go." 
Here is another wonderful miracle. One writer 
thinks that this was the most wonderful of 
all his miracles. Lazarus had been dead for 
four days, but the great voice of God's Son 
called him back to life again. Surely the eul- 



92 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

mination of his miracles was raising this man 
from the dead! 

II. Did the Apostles do such works f 
Paul cast out an evil spirit. I presume 
that there are but few Christians who do not 
remember the vision which appeared unto the 
Apostle Paul in which 'Hhere stood a man of 
Macedonia and prayed him, saying, Come over 

into Macedonia, and help us.'' Stretching his 
eyes across the Agean Sea, from Troas on the 
north-east, to the Macedonian hills, visible on 

the north-west, the Apostle could hardly fail 
to think this the destined scene of his future 
labors. Accordingly he and his companions 
set sail from Troas; sailed to Samothrace, and 
the day following to Neapolis ; and from thence 

to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia,'' and 
here they tarried certain days. And on the 
Sabbath day they went forth v/ithout the gate 
by the river side, where there was, as they 
supposed, a place of prayer. ^^And it came 

to pass," says Luke, '^as we were going to the 
place of prayer, that a certain maid having a 
spirit of diviniation met us, who brought her 

masters much gain by soothsaying. The same 
following after Paul and cried out, saying, 
These men are the servants of the Most High 
G-od, who proclaim unto you the way of salva- 
tion. And this she did for many days. But 
Paul, being sore troubled, turned and said to 
the spirit, I charge thee in the name of Jesus 



DOING THE GREATER WORKS 93 

Christ to come out of her. And it came out 
of her that verv hour." 

Paul healed the sick. We are told that the 
inhabitants of Malta received the shipwrecked 
mariners, among whom was the Apostle Paul, 
with kindness, and kindled a fire, which was 
most needful in the cold and rain. Paul was 
helping gather sticks, and had just laid a bun- 
dle on the fire, Avhen a viper, driven out by the 
heat, fastened on his hand. The superstitious 
natives watched and said among themselves, 
**at all events this man is a murderer, whom 
saved from the sea, justice suffereth not to 
live." But when, after Paul had quickly shaken 
off the reptile into the fire, they watched a 
long time in vain to see him swell and fall 
down dead, they changed their minds and said 
that he was a god. The incident not only gave 
Paul that ascendency over the people which we 
well know how he would use, but it would 
naturally attract the attention of Publius, the 
primate of the island, whose estates were in 
the neighborhood. He received the Apostle's 
party with courteous hospitality. '^And it was 
so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever 
and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, 
and prayed, and laying his hands on him healed 
him. And when this was done, the rest also 
that had diseases in the island came, and were 
cured. ' ' 

Peter and John healed a lame man. Peter 
and John were going up into the temple at the 



94 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

hour of prayer ^^And a certain man that was 
lame from his mother's womb was carried, 
whom they laid daily at the door of the temple 
which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them 
that entered into the temple ; who seeing Peter 
and John about to go into the temple, asked 
to receive an alms. And Peter, fastening his 
eyes upon him, with John, said. Look on us. 

And he gave heed unto them, expecting to 
receive something from them. But Peter said, 
Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, 
that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ 
of Nazareth, walk. And he took him by the 
right hand, and raised him up : and immediately 
his feet and his ankle-bones received strength. 
And leaping up, he stood, and began to walk: 
and he entered with them into the temple, 
walking, and leaping, and praising God.'' 

Peter raised the dead. At Jbppa, the 
ancient port of Solomon, lived a certain dis- 
ciple named Dorcas, the name of whom has 
become the type of greater loveliness of that 
charity with which she clothed the poor by the 
labor of her hands. She ^^was full of good 
works and alms deeds which she did. And it 
came to pass in those days, that she fell sick 
and died : and when they had washed her, they 
laid her in an upper chamber. And as Lydda 
was nigh unto Joppa, the disciples, hearing 
that Peter was there, sent two men unto him, 
entreating him, Delay not to come unto us. 
And Peter arose and went with them. And 



DOING THE GREATER WORKS ' 95 

when he was come, they brought him to the 
upper chamber : and all the widows stood by 
him weeping, and showing the coats and gar- 
ments which Dorcas made, while she was with 
them. But Peter put them all forth, and 
kneeled down, and prayed; and turning to the 
body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened 
her eyes ; and when she saw Peter, she sat up, 
and he gave her his hand, and raised her up ; 
and calling the saints and widows he presented 
her alive. '^ 

Thus investigation discloses the fact that 
''the works, which Jesus did, his Apostles did 
also.'' Jesus cast out evil spirits, healed the 
withered hand, cured the sick, and raised the 
dead. The Apostles did these things also. 
Surely the ' ' greater works ' ' which he promised 
them that they should do, were not performing 
miracles. 

Thus we are lead to inquire : 

III. What were the greater works which 
his apostles were to do? Beyond a doubt the 
''greater works'' were the conversion of thous- 
ands in a day, and proclaiming the gospel in 
its fullness, or in other words, they announced 
the full law of pardon, which was a greater 
work than miracles. When Peter preached the 
first gospel sermon under the commission, three 
thousand answered the first invitation, and 
already does he realize the "greater work" 
that had been committed to their hands. 



96 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

Proclaiming the full gospel is greater work 
than miracles because : 

1. It is the power of God unto salvation 
to everyone that believeth. No one will doubt 
for a moment that God's powers are many, and 
that he uses all of them for the benefit of man. 
Water is God's power to quench thirst, and 
food is God's power to quell hunger — and these 
have been put in our reach. God's power mani- 
fests itself in the forces of nature around us. 
We see it in the mighty ocean; in the river; 
m the lake; in the brook, and in the spring. 
We see it in the snow capped Alps ; in the hills, 
and in the moss covered mound. We see it in 
the giant oak of the forest ; in the shrub bend- 
ing beneath the weight of the thrush, and in 
the -violet blooming by the wayside. His 
power is seen in all creation, but in the gospel 
of Jesus Christ is manifest the ** power of God 
unto salvation." Men have had power to 
conquer the world by force of arms. A power- 
ful people had power to render Britain tribu- 
tary; to paint Rhine crimson with blood, but 
these powers were not able to forgive the sins 
of man. Only the gospel is the power of God 
unto salvation, and when the Apostles were 
proclaiming it, they were doing greater work 
than working miracles. Greater because the 
soul is greater than the body; greater to feed 
the soul on the bread of life, than to feed the 
multitudes with loaves and fishes; greater to 
open their minds to see Jesus as their Saviour, 



DOING THE GREATER WORKS 97 

than to open the eyes of blind Bartimeus, and 
greater to raise a man from the depths of sin 
than to raise Lazarus from the grave. Pro- 
claiming the gospel is greater work than mir- 
acles, not only because it is *'the power of God 
unto salvation, ' ' but because : 

2. It is a satisfying power. As we look 
upon what the world calls satisfaction, we 
conclude that this is an age in which no man 
is satisfied. In the commercial world, man is 
not satisfied. In the educational world, man 
is not satisfied. In the world of invention, man 
know^s no satisfaction. He is walking in safety 
on the bottom of the sea, but is not satisfied. 
Our ov^n dear Brother John William McGar- 
vey, who was, only yesterday, consigned to 
mother earth, said, * * Indeed, man is fast making 
the ocean a plaint servant ; and, though he may 
never be able to say to it, * Peace, be still,' it 
seems that he will be able to say: Go on your 
way, wild wind and waves, and, in spite of your 
fury, I will go on mine. ' ' He sails through the 
air like a huge eagle rushing for rich prey, and 
thunders across the continent like a cyclone 
rushing down the western plain. Yet, man 
longs for greater things — for greater achieve- 
ments. The stupendous achievements of man, 
as the world counts achievement, do not satisfy. 
Only the gospel will satisfy in the highest and 
fullest sense. It is the gospel that enables 
man to say, ^^I know that my Redeemer liveth, 
and though the fire devour this body, yet in my 



98 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

flesh I shall see the Lord. ' ' It was this satisfy- 
ing gospel which enabled Paul to say, ''I am 
now read}^ to be offered up, and the time of my 
departure is at hand. I have fought a good 
fight, I have finished my course, I have kept 
the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a 
croAvn of righteousness, which the Lord, the 
righteous judge, shall give me at that day : and 
not to me only, but unto them also that love his 
appearing.'' Is it not the gospel that sustains 
us in trouble? 

** There was a minister who often said to 
his people, ^God is good, and is able to make 
his people happy.' His only son — a bright 
darling boy — died very suddenly. The day for 
his funeral came. The coffin was lowered into 
the grave. Another minister was conducting 
the funeral. Just before he finished the ser- 
vice, he asked the weeping father if he had 
anything to say. Most of his congregation was 
standing aroimd the grave. The sorrowing 
minister replied, ^Yes, I would like to say a 
few words. ' He said, ^ My friends, when I was 
in no trouble, vou have often heard me sav that 
God is good, and always able to make his 
people happy. And now, here, as I stand be- 
side the grave of my darling boy, I can say 
from my heart, God is good, and I am satisfied 
even in my sorrow." That satisfying gospel 
made him acquainted with God who doeth all 
things well, and who loves us with an ever- 
lasting love. 



DOING THE GREATER WORKS 91 

The preaching of the gospel produces love 
in the hearts of men, which is greater than all 
spiritual gifts. **If I speak with the tongues of 
men and of angels, but have not love, I am 
become sounding brass, or a clanging symbol. 
And if I have the gift of all prophecy, and 
know all mystery and all knowledge; and if 

I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, 
but have not love, I am nothing. And if I 
bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I 
give my body to be burned, but have not love, 
it profiteth me nothing. Love suffereth long, 
and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth 
not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave it- 
self unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not pro- 
voked, taketh not account of evil; rejoiceth not 
in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the 
truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, 
hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love 
never faileth : but whether there be prophecies, 

they shall be done away; whether they be 
tongues, they shall cease; whether there be 
knowledge, it shall be done away. For we 
know in part, and we prophesy in part; but 
when that which is perfect is come, that which 
is in part shall be done away. When I was 
a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I 
thought as a child; now that I am become a 
man, I have put away childish things. For now 
we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to 
face : now I know in part ; but then shall T 
know fully even as also I was fully known. But 



1(» fetEPig tJNTO HEAVBN 

now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; aud 
the greatest of these is love." 

The Bible is correctly called the record of 
God's love. Every page is a record of Grod, 
and His love. Who can read the story of Ruth, 
and fail to see love in it? Who can read the 
j^tory of Absalom, and fail to see love in it? It 
was love which led the old father to the gate 
saying, *^0, Absalom, my son, my son." Do 
you not see love in the story of Jacob grieving 
for his children. It was love which caused him 
to cry out, ^*Me ye have bereft of my children. 
Joseph is not ; Simeon is not, and now you will 
take Benjamin from me." Yea, God himself 
is love ! Christ loves us with an infinite love ! 
He came to earth to prove this love, he walked 
up and down the earth to prove this love, he 
served to prove this love, he suffered to prove 
this love, he sacrificed to prove this love, he 
died to prove this love, he rose from the dead, 
and escended *Ho prepare a mansion for" us. 
WHY? Because he loves us! 

** Saviour! teach me, day by day, 
Love's sweet lesson to obey; 
Sweeter lesson cannot be. 
Loving Him who first loved me." 

IV. Can we do grmter works than mir- 
aclesf 

The modern Bible-school is doing greater 
work than miracles. Speaking of the Bible- 



DOING THE GREATER WORKS 101 

school, Horace Bushell said, ''It is the greatest 
work in the world, sometimes T think it is the 
only work,^' and Luther said, "God maiii- 
tains the church through the schools/' The 
Bible-school seems to have heard the admoni- 
tion of Solomon, ''Train up a child in the way 
it should go,'' and has cheerfully taken the 
responsibility of religious training upon its 
own shoulders. Concerning his word, God said 
unto Moses, "Thou shalt teach them diligently 
unto thy children." Through every depart- 
ment of Bible-school, there is greater work than 
miracles being done. The Home Department, 
the Adult Department, the Intermediate, the 
Junior Department, the Primary Department, 
and the Cradle Roll, are the channels through 
which hundreds are brought into the kingdom 
yearly. 

Again, who can tell how far into eternity 
the influence of a consecrated Bible-school 
superintendent will extend? None but God 
knows. "A New York Bible-school superin- 
tendent urged his teachers to bring new pupils 
with them next Sunday, and as he walked down 
Sixth Avenue, attempted himself, to win a 
street-boy. 'Will you go to Sunday-school?', 
he said, and in the vernacular of the street 
the boy said, 'Nop'. The superintendent said, 
'We hav^e picture-papers for every boy,' and 
he would not come. 'We have music, we 
have everything to make you have a good 
time,' and the boy steadily refused. Disap- 



102 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

pointed, the superintendent turned away, and 
when he had gone a short distance he heard 
the patter of little feet behind him, and turn- 
ing back he saw the boy. He said with an 
earnest eager look, 'Mister, are you there?', 
and the superintendent said, *Yes, I am there.' 
^Well,' he^said, 'next Sunday 111 be there.' " 
And he was ! That consecrated superintendent 
did a greater work than miracles. I wish we 
might follow his influence, and see the harvest 
which was reaped from his sowing ! Is not the 
work of a faithful Bible-school teacher greater 
than miracles? How many have been brought 
to Christ by her sacred influence ! The faithful 
teacher is one of God's best instruments on 
earth for the salvation of our young men, young 
women and boys and girls. The inspired man 
of old looked down through the ages and beheld 
the work of the modem Bible-school teachers, 
and said of them, ''They that be teachers shall 
shine as the brightness of the firmament and 
they that lead many to righteousness shall 
shine as the stars forever and ever." 

*'The Sunday School Lighthouse shines out on life's 

wave. 
It beams for all nations, their children to save; 
Thro' Calvary's cross and thro' Bethlehem's cave 
The light shines from glory with power to save. 

The channels are narrow, sin's breakers are there. 
Life's ocean is strew'd with wrecks of despair; 
Then build up, my brother, no time for delay. 



iiji. 



DOING THE GREATER WORKS 103 

The Sunday School Lighthouse and save then 
today. 

The workers are needed, the teachers are few, 
The Master, my brother, depends upon you; 
Don't wait for somei wasted life wreck'd on the 

shoals. 
The Sunday School Lighthouse must save lives and 

souls. 

Where Unbelief's waves roll and storms are most 

fierce, 
The Sunday School Lighthouse that dark gloom 

must pierce; 
'Tis the gleam of that Star which at Bethlehem 

shone. 
The Sunday School Lighthouse will light the way 

home." 

In the next place the work of our mission- 
aries is greater work than miracles. Sue Rob- 
inson, who converted Jeu Hawk and afterward 
went to India as a missionary, and died from 
cholera, did a greater work than performing 
miracles. ^* David Livingston that consummate 
hero, who dared four attacks of fever and then 
died upon his knees surrounded only by the 
sable sons of Africa that he might open up its 
dark recesses to the missionary," did a greater 
work than miracles. 

A christian missionary was performing 
mission duties among the poor and sad people 
of London, England. He found a woman dying 
in want and misery, and asked her what she 



104 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

wanted most. A grand answer came from her 
parched lips. That answer was, ^'I have 
Christ — what want I more.'' A poet heard 
the striking story, and sat down and wrote the 
following lines showing the world that it is 
greater to die in Christ than to do miracles. 



it 



In the lieart of London City, 
Mid the dwellings of the poor. 
These bright golden words were uttered: 
M have Christ — what want I more.' 



»» 



By a lonely dying woman, 
Stretched upon a garret floor. 
Having not one earthly blessing: 
*I have Christ — what want I more.' 

He who heard them ran to bring her 
Something from the worlds great store; 
It was needless, died she saying: 
*I have Christ — what want I more.' 

But her words will live forever, 
I repeat them o'er and o'er. 
God delights to hear me saying 
*I have Christ — what want I more.' " 




^ 



That Which Was Lost 




For the Son of Man is come to seek and to 
save that which was lost. 

Luke 19 : 10. 

AN was created in the image of Grod ; 
he had constant access to his mak- 
er, enjoyed free communion with 
him, and perfect holiness was 
impressed upon the very nature 
and faculties of his soul. But, alas! man dis- 
obeyed, and ''the Lord God sent him forth 
from the garden of Eden, to till the ground 
from which he was taken,'' and to ''eat of 
the herb of the field.'' Man's absolute purity 
is gone, and his happiness forfeited. But his 
ruin is not hopeless, for: 

I. The son of man is come to seek and to 
save that vjhich is lost. 

This was his mission. He came from heaven 
the eternal abiding place of God, that we might 
have life. He left the glory that he had with 
the Father before the world was. He became 
poor that we through his poverty might become 

105 



106 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

rich. He left his throne and came to this world, 
his footstool, whereon he had no place to lay 
his head. He laid aside his heavenly glory, 
and was seen walking in the form of man. **In 
the beginning was the Word, and the Word 
was with God, and the Word was God, and the 
Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." 
Amazing condescension! in thus abasing him- 
self. Born in Bethlehem, of a humble Gallileean 
woman, and lain in a manger because there was 
no room for him in the inn. He came as a ser- 
vant, to minister, and to seek and to save that 
which was lost. Moses went forth to deliver 
the Hebrews; Abraham went forth in search 
of the mount which the Lord would show him; 
Paul went forth to preach the gospel to those 
in Macedonia; Alexander v/ent forth to con- 
quer the Avorld ; Caesar went forth to subdue 
his enemies; Mr. Peary went forth to discover 
the North pole; Columbus went forth to dis- 
cover a new world, and Livingston went forth 
to explore dark Africa, but the Son of Man 
went forth from heaven and came to this world 
to weep over Jerusalem, to weep with the sis- 
ters of Lazarus, *Ho preach good tidings to the 
poor," **to proclaim release to the captives," 
and to seek and to save that which was lost. 
The grandest mission on which man has ever 
gone! Behold how wisely he illustrates his 
mission. 

*'Then drew near unto him all the public- 
ans and sinners for to hear him. And the 



THAT WHICH WAS LOST 107 

Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying. This 
man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 
And he spake this parable unto them saying, 
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, 
if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety 
and nine in the wilderness, and go after that 
which was lost, until he find it? And when 
he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, 
rejoicing: And when he cometh home, he call- 
eth together his friends and his neighbors say- 
ing unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have 
found my sheep which was lost. I say unto 
you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over 
one sinner that repenteth, more than over 
ninety-nine just persons, which need no repent- 
ance. 

Either a woman having ten pieces of sil- 
ver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a 
candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently 
till she find it? And when she hath found it, 
she calleth her friends and her neighbours 
together, saying. Rejoice with me ; for I have 
found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, 
I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of 
the angels of God over one sinner that repent- 
eth." 

Jesus seeks diligently until he finds the 
lost, and the angels of God ^'rejoice at the 
find." 

II. Consider the world into which Christ 
came, 

1. He came into a world of sinners. Paul, 



108 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

speaking of the Gentiles, frankly gave the 
world a description of them, in which he says 
that they had refused to have God in their 
knowledge, being filled with unrighteousness, 
eovetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, mur- 
der, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, back- 
biters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boast- 
ful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to 
parents, without understanding, covenent 
breakers, without mercy, and without natural 
affection. 

And he seems to have vouched for the 
truthfulness of that which was written of th^ 
Jews: ^* There is none righteous, no not one: 
There is none that understandeth, there is 
none that seeketh after God. They have all 
turned aside, they are together become un- 
profitable; there is none that doeth good, no, 
not so much as one: Their throat is an open 
sepulchre; with their tongues they have used 
deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 
whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 
their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction 
and misery are in their ways : and the way of 
peace they have not known: there is no fear 
of God before their eyes.'' 

In searching the history of mankind, we 
find the cause of his corruption and condem- 
nation in Eden. The eating of the *^ forbidden 
tree'' was *Hhe offense of one" in consequence 
of which **many are dead." He disobeyed the 
divine law, and, 



THAT WHICH WAS LOST IW 

^* Brought death into the world, and 
all our woe." 

Indeed, the first sin of our foreparents was the 
greatest ingratitude to the divine bounty. He 
rebelled, and joined in league with hell against 
heaven; with satan against God, and opened 
the door to all wicked and abominable pas- 
sions. The flood-gates of wickedness have been 
thrown open, and the deluge of sin has swept 
the world. From the crown of man's head 
to the soles of his feet, there is nothing but 
wounds, bruises, and putrefying sores. Yea, 
who shall describe the condition of fallen man ! 
** Suppose a vast grave-yard, surrounded 
by a lofty wall, with only one entrance, which 
is by a massive iron gate, and it is fast bolted. 
Within are thousands and millions of human 
beings, of all ages and classes, by one epidemic 
disease bending toward the grave. The graves 
yawn to swallow them, and they must all perish. 
There is no balm to relieve, no physician there. 
Such is the condition of man as a sinner. All 
have sinned ; and it is written * The soul that 
sinneth shall die.' But while the unhappy race 
lay in the dismal prison, mercy came and stood 
at the gate, and wept over the sad scene, ex- 
claiming, 'Oh, that I might enter! I would 
bind up their wounds; I would relieve their 
sorrows ; I would save their souls ! ' An embassy 
of angels commissioned from the court of 
heaven to some other world, paused at the 
«ight. and heaven forgave the pause. Seeing 



no STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

mercy standing there, they cried : ' Mercy, canst 
thoii not enter? Canst thou look upon that 
scene and not pity?' Mercy replied: 'I can 
see,' and in her tears she added, 'I can pity 
bnt cannot relieve.' ^Why canst thou not 
enter?' inquired the heavenly host. ^Oh!, said 
Mercy,' Justice has barred the gate against 
me, and I must not — cannot anbar it.' At this 
moment, Justice appeared, as if to watch the 
gate. The angels asked, ^Why wilt not thou 

suffer Mercy to enter?' He sternly replied: 
'The law is broken, and it must be honored.' 
*Die they or Justice must.' Then appeared a 
form among the angelic band like unto the Son 
of Man. To Justice, He said, 'What are thy 
demands?' Justice replied: 'My demands are 
rigid; I must have ignomity for this honor, 
sickness for their health, death for their life. 
Without the shedding of blood there is no re- 
mission!' 'Justice,' said the Son of Man, 'I 
accept thy terms. ' ' On me be this wrong. ' ' Let 
Mercy enter and stay the carnival of death.' 
'AVhat pledge dost thou give for the perform- 
ance of these conditions?' 'My word, my 
oath!' 'When wilt thou perform them?' 'Four 

thousand years hence on the hill of Calvary, 
without the walls of Jerusalem.' The bond 
was prepared, and signed and sealed in the 
presence of the attendent angels. Justice was 
satisfied, the gate was opened and Mercy enter- 
ed, preaching salvation in the name of Jesus. 
The bond was committed to patriarchs and 



THAT WHICH WAS LOST 111 

prophets. A long series of rites and ceremon- 
ies, sacrifices and obligations, was instituted 
to perpetuate the memory of the Salemn deed. 
At the close of the four thousandeth year, 
Justice and Mercy appeared on the hill of 
Calvary. ^ Where/ said Justice, *is the Son 
of Godr ^Behold him,' ansv/ered Mercy, *at 
the foot of the hill.' And there he came, 
bearing his own cross, and followed by his 
weeping church. Jesus ascended the hill like 
a lamb for the sacrifice. The bond was nailed 
to the cross, and when the blessed Son of God 
cried, *It is finished,' rose from the dead, gave 
the commission, and ascended to heaven, grace 
abounded, and the free gift has come upon all, 
and the gospel has gone forth proclaiming 
redemption to every creature. 'By grace ye 
are saved, through faith; and that not your- 
selves ; it is the gift of God ; not of works, lest 
any man should boast.' " 

Man in his rebellious, wicked, and lost con- 
dition, in justice, deserved punishment, but 
''the Son of Man is come to seek and to save 
that which was lost," and the instrumentality 
is love. 

III. Is he able to save that which is lost? 

1. The miracles which he performed prove 
his power to save. At Capernaum he restored 
the sight of two blind men, healed a dumb de- 
moniac, healed the centurian's servants of 
palsy, raised Jairu's daughter from the dead, 
healed the man sick of palsy, healed the man 



112 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

with the withered hand, and said unto Peter, 
* * go thou to the sea, and east an hook, and take 
up the fish that first eometh up ; and when thou 
hast opened its mouth, thou shalt find a piece 
of money: that take, and give imto them for 
me and thee." At Decapolis, he healed a deaf 
and dumb man. At Bethny, he raised Lazarus 
from the dead. At Nain, *^he came and touched 
the bier; and they that bare him stood still. 
And he said, young man, I say unto thee arise, 
and he that was dead sat up, and began to 

speak. And he delivered him to his mother." 
While he and his disciples were on the Sea of 
Galilee, 'Hhere arose a great storm of wind, 
and the waves beat into the ship, so that it 
was now full. And he was in the hinder part 
of the ship, asleep on a pillow : and they awake 
him, and say unto him, Master carest thou not 
that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked 
the wind, and said unto the sea. Peace be still. 
And the wind ceased, and there was a great 
calm." He had power over nature, he had 
power over diseases, he had power over demons, 
he had powder over the dead, he had power over 

life present and life to come, and especially 
should the great miracle of his resurrection be 
emphasized. He pointed to this event as the 
final test and confirmation of his claim to be 
the Son of God and Saviour of the world. He 
came forth from the grave guaranteeing his 
power to save men. '*0n the third day the 
sepulchre was empty. Within the next forty 



THAT WHICH WAS LOST 113 

days he appeared at divers times on divers 
occasion to divers people." At one time more 
than five hundred saw him. Indeed, he is not 
only able to save from sin, but he is able to 
save from the lowest depths of sin. 

At one time he was in the temple, '*and 
all the people came unto him : and he sat down, 
and taught them. And the Scribes and Phar- 
isees brought unto him a woman taken in adult- 
ery; and when they had set her in the midst, 
They say imto him. Master, this woman was 
taken in adultery, in the very act." She be- 
longs to the class of outcasts. She is a sinner, 
and hopelessly lost. God and society have 
abandoned her. There she stands in the mul- 
titude. Every eye is upon her. They want 
to stane her, and Jesus said, *^He that is with- 
out sin among you, let him first cast a stone 
at her. And again he stooped down, and 
wrote on the ground." They were convicted 
by their own conscience, and went out one by 
one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the 
least." And when this procession of sinners 
had filed out, Jesus said unto her, Woman 
where are those thine accusers^ hath no man 
condemned thee? She said, No man. Lord. 
And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn 
thee: go, and sin no more." This poor woman 
had gone just as near hell as a poor creature 
can get this side, but Jesus was able to stretch 
forth his hand and rescue her. 

And did he not save Saul, the persecutor 



114 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

and murderer? Did he not save Zaecheus, the 
publican? There is no one so deep in sin that 
the Son of Man cannot reach him; no sin so 
black that he cannot wash away every stain. 
^* Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be 
as white as snow; though they be red like 
crimson, they shall be as wool." Jesus said 
to the dying thief, '^ Today shalt thou be with 
me in Paradise.'^ Yes, a thief — a thief that 
many men would not associate with for a 
moment. That is the class that he came to 
seek and to save, and if they are ever saved, 
they must be saved by him, for, ^*in none other 
is there salvation. For neither is there any 
other name in heaven that is given among men 
wherein we must be saved.'' 

'^0, what amazing words of grace, 
Are in this gospel found, 

Suited to every sinner's case, 
Who hears the gospel soimd." 

2. His character proves his power to save 
the lost. It is admitted by every one, that the 
character of Jesus, as it is presented to us by 
the four evangelists, is one of unequal excel- 
lence. Of all characters, it has the most strong- 
ly marked features. He loved men while they 
mocked him; while they scourged him; while 
they planted thorns on his brow; while they 
were compelling him to carry his cross; while 
they nailed his hands and feet to the tree ; while 



THAT WHICH WAS LOST 115 

they were easting lots for his vesture ; while 
they were writing the superscription over his 
head, and prayed for them when he was dying. 
It is an easy matter for many to love the lov- 
able, but hard to love the hateful. Jesus loved 
the lovable and hateful with the same ever- 
lasting love. This love was too strong to be 
conquered by man's injustice and ingratitude. 
'^It unites thus, in perfect harmony, the quali- 
ties of the saint and of the philanthropist.^' He 
was never known to compromise with evil, or 
sanction evil-doing, *^but with this purity there 
is a deep well of tenderness, a spirit of forgive- 
ness which never fails.'' He was literally a 
sinless man. He *'was in all points tempted 
like as we are, yet without sin." He is the 
Son of God, and he is the Son of Man. All 

traits of perfect character are seen in Christ. 
Peter was distinguished by his zeal; John by 
his love; James by works; Paul by faith, but 
in the Son of Man all these traits of noble 

character are made perfect. He is the Lamb 
of God which taketh away the sins of the 
world. Thus do his life and character prove his 
po\^er to save the lost. He is not willing that 

any should perish, but that all should have 
everlasting life. ^^He that cometh unto me I 
will in no wise cast out" — ^'Come for all things 

are now ready" — '^And the spirit and the 
bride say come, and let him that heareth say 
come. And let him that is athirst say come : 



116 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

and whosoever will, let him take the water of 
life freely." 

"Come, then, with all your wants and wounds. 

Your every burden bring; 
Here love, unchanging love, abounds, — 

A deep celestial spring. 

This spring with living water flows. 

And iheavenly joy imparts. 
Come, thirsty souls, your wants disclose 

And drink with thankful hearts. 

Millions of sinners vile as you. 

Have here found life and peace; 

Come, then, and prove it^ virtues, too, 
And drink, adore, and bless.'* 




The Prodigal Son 




HE parable of the Prodigal Son is, 
perhaps, the most familiar parable 
that the Son of Man spoke, and, 
strange to say, there are hundreds 
of people who turn coldly away 
from it. Just why they treat it so indifferently, 
I am unable to determine. It may be that they 
have turned away from it because it is such 
familiar ground that it has lost its charm for 
them. Familiarity frequently drives away all 
charm that objects, beautiful scenery, or books 
may have for us. Upon this very thought Dr. 
Chapman says, ''I was sweeping through the 
magnificent Rocky Mountain scenery some time 
ago, and when we had plunged into the Royal 
Gtorge, and later into the Grand Canon, it 
seemed to me that scenery more sublime could 
not be found in all the world, and if I had 
never been impressed before with the existence 
of Grod, I should have cried out unto him in 
the midst of these mountain peaks. I noticed 
that everyone in the car, with one single excep- 



m 



118 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

tion, was gazing with rapt admiration. This 
one woman was reading a book, and to my 
certain knowledge, she did not lift her eyes 
once from the printed page while we were in 
that wonderful scenery. When we had swung 
out into the great table land, I overheard her 
say to a friend, *This is the thirteenth time 
I hai^e crossed these mountains. The first time 
I could not keep the tears from rolling down 
my cheeks, so impressed was I, but now, I 
know it so well that I frequently go through 
the whole range with scarcely a glance cast 
out the window. ' It is thus alas ! that we read 
God's Word, and that which fills Heaven with 
wonder, and furnishes the angels a theme for 
never-ending praise, we read with indifference 
or fail to read at all." It is thus that many 
read the story of the Prodigal Son. Others 
read it again and again with increasing inter- 
est, notwithstanding its familiarity. 

This wonderful story of the Prodigal Son 
naturally falls into two great parts. In the 
first one we consider him as : 

I. The typical sinner — This young man 
was like a great many young men of our own 
time. He thought himself too wise to be 
guided by his parents. He did not want to 
be tied any longer to '* mother's apron strings." 
It was not his wish that his father should dic- 
tate for him for, as he thought, he was capable 
of taking care of himself. He could not but 
think that he was smart enougrh to be **his 



li 



THE PRODIGAL SON 119 

own man. ' ' For him the rules of home were too 
rigid. The burdens of home were greater than 
he could bear. He could not be free, and free- 
dom was what he most desired. Finally he 
went to his father and said ''Father, give me 
the portion of thy substance that falleth to 
me. And he divided unto them his living. 
And not many days after, the younger son 
gathered all together and took his journey into 
a far country." At last he had set himself 

free ! The old restrictions that had tortured 
him for so long were thrown off. The many 
tedious errands were finished. The monotony 
of the daily routine had turned into a thing 
of the past. The daily programs were planned 
according to his notion. To himself he whis- 
pered, '^ Henceforth I am my own master, and 
the broad world is before me. Over this vast 
domain I will come and go as I please. There 
is nothing to prevent it. The world is a tre- 
mendous field in which I am free to sow my 
*wild oats.' I will see life." Boys, it is cer- 
tainly a tragic thing to hear a young man 
talking about '^ seeing life", when it is really 

death that he is seeing. When you hear a 
young man talking a great deal about being 
free, it means, as a rule, that he is enslaving 
himself. ''In the beginning" he does feel a 
delusive sense of freedom. No longer does he 
have to be "on duty" at certain hours, obey 
rules of a master, perform tasks ; the world 
is before him, and the restrictions of home are 



130 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

behind. He is free! (?). He is strong and 
healthy, why not step out on the great play- 
board of life, like other young men, and test 
his power? So he starts on the journey. The 
old home grows dim. The present is rich and 
full, but * ^ expectation points on to new sen- 
sations and experiences." The future beckons, 
and he goes. From city to city, from country 
to country, the free (?) traveller makes his 
way. He is doing as he pleases. If he wishes 

to stay he stays, and if he feels impelled to 
go he goes. He sees men on every side who 
are tied by duties, while he has none. He has 
broken the old prison in which so many people 
bind themselves with care and duty. He 
breathes the pure air, and ^^ walks with the 

world at his feet ' \ How free ! How absolutely 
independent! He is no longer dominated by 
duty, morality, G-od; he is a grown man, and 
he has put away childish things. He has ex- 
changed the dear old home of childhood, of 
mother, of purity, of flowers, and of love, for 
the world, and henceforth the world is his 
home. He goes to the ^'far country '\ And 

while there, he wasted his substance with riot- 
ous living. *^And when he had spent all, there 
arose a mighty famine in that country; and 
he began to be in want. And he went and 
joined hmiself to one of the citizens of that 
country ; and he sent him into his fields to feed 
swine. And he would fain have filled his belly 
with the husks that the swine did eat : and no 



THE PRODIGAL SON 121 

man gave unto him/* You notice that when 
his money goes his friends go also ; for ' * friends 
that are bought with money disappear when 
the money disappears/' Go without friends 
rather than buy them ! ! Yea, go unloved rather 
than buy the lover ! ! ! 

In this parable there are many lessons 
which we can apply to actual life. *'It is acted 
over and over again and again/' But it is 
only when we consider the spiritual meaning 
of the parable that the sinful and ugly con- 
duct of this son comes clearly into view. God 
is the father, man is the son. The rule of the 
father is a spiritual one. His voice is the voice 
of conscience, and the desire to escape His 
control is wholly unjustifiable. He has a right 
to make certain standards, and require each 
individual to live up to them. He has a right to 
pimish or reward according to his will, and 
when one endeavors to set aside his authority 
and control, he is seeking to put pleasure in 
the place of duty, to shake off obligation to 
his God, to the church, to his fellowmen, and 
to himself. He is like the man who had relig- 
ious training in his early life and due regard 
for the worship of God and for the house of 
prayer, and then, after having tasted heavenly 
gifts, turned away like a dog to the vomit, 
or the sow to the wallowing in the mire. 

In the second part of the story we con- 
sider him as: 

II. The model penitent — No story in the 



122 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

Bible gives us a more perfect picture of a 
model penitent than the last part of the story 
of the Prodigal Son. From it we learn in 
what attitude of soul we should return to our 
heavenly Father. The manner in which the 
better mind was awakened in him, is not neces- 
sarily an example to us. It was when hunger 
crept upon him that he *^came to himself", and 

thought upon the sinful course that had brought 
him to this low station in life. But, of course, 
this is only one of the many ways in which 
God makes his voice heard. It was through 
hunger that he spoke to the Prodigal, but the 
way in which he calls the attention to our spir- 
itual danger may be far different. Speaking 
of the various ways in which God calls to us, 
Sam Jones said, ^ ' Have you any idea how many 
calls there are in this book (The Bible) to you, 
my brother, and to you my sister? Oh, this 
book ! with each page, and sometimes with 
each verse, calling us to nobler and better 
things! And this book has been on the table 
at your home, and on the shelf at your home, 

and in your library at your home, this book 
todaj^ v/ith its millions of copies scattered over 
the earth, and almost a million calls in each 
book! Oh, surely no man can sink down to 
Ilell at last and say, ^I would have gone to 
nobler heights and to a better life than I did 
if I had had just one call of mercy and good- 
ness from God to me.' This blessed book, how 
full of calls!'' 



THE PRODIGAL SON 123 

The providence of God brought Sam Jones 
around his father's dying pillow, and he 
watched him as he passed out of this world. 
God placed his father's corpse in his pathway 
and he turned around and said, *'I will go 
back. I will go back." — ^*And many a time a 
man has traveled so far that God can never 
stop him imtil he puts his dead wife in his 
pathway, and many a man has turned around 
and said, ^ I will go back. I will go back. ' Many 
a time God has thrown a sweet angel babe, like 
a sweet angel chiseled out of marble, in the 
pathway of the father, and stopped him, ^^and 
there are many other kinds of experiences that 
lead to the wholesome change in the conduct 
of life. A severe illness, the sudden death of 
a friend, an unexpected calamity, a kind word, 
a word of advice, the touch of a friendly hand, 
the pleading voice of a disciple — in some one 
of these the attention may be directed to our 
spiritual danger, and the awful loss and risk 
to which we are exposed by ** remaining among 
the swine" away from Him. But let the exper- 
ience that *^ brings us to the Father" be what 
it may be, we can find no better pattern of 
penitence in word and action than the Prodi- 
gal affords us in the latter part of his history. 

1. He finds fault with no one but himself — 
Throughout his journey, he is not heard to 
say a word against his evil companions — 
against those who lured him along the broad 
road of sin — against those who would not give 



124 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

him a mouthfull to eat — against those who 
took his money and fled ; he has nothing to say 
of degraded humanity; he has nothing to say 
about sinfulness in general; he has nothing to 
say about various societies and classes, or any- 
thing to say about anybody's condition but 
his oAvn. He says he himself is unworthy. He 
says that no one is responsible for his down- 
fall but he himself. He himself has sinned. 
When he came to himself he said, *^What a 
fool I have been. Here I am, cold, homeless, 
friendless, without money, alone, starving, and 
in my father's house the servants have enough 
and to spare. I will go back and ask to be 
made a servant in my father's house." Here 
is the crisis. Here is the dividing line. Here 
is the extremity. Here his soul quivers in 
the balances of decision. Thus far the course 
of this young man was a course of 
folly, and his return was the return 
to wisdom. It was when he came 

to himself that he said, ^^I will arise and go 
unto my father. ' ' I will not try to excuse my- 
self on the ground of bad companions. I have 
no right to mention them, though the judge 
may take them into account. The fact remains, 
when all is said, that I am responsible for my 
giult, and my only resource is to make a 
manly, true confession. I have sinned; I am 
imworthv. ' ' 

2. His shame. He abases himself before 
his earthly father, as well as before God. This 



THE PRODIGAL SON 125 

is a plain mark of penitence. '*It is easy to 
call yourself the chief of sinners, expecting 
every sinner round you to decline, or return 
the compliment ; but learn to measure the real 
degrees of your own relative baseness, and to 
be ashamed, not only in heaven's sight, but in 
man's sight, and redemption is indeed begun." 
Notice very carefully — **I have sinned against 
heaven" — against God and hefore thee." He 
feels that he is degraded before his father, and 
that he is fit to be only a servant. He is 
ashamed, and the ** element of shame is essen- 
tial to true penitence." 

3. Another mark of true penitence is the 
desire to be henceforward subjeat to anthority. 
What a wonderful change! He left his dear 
old father^ s house; he is glad to come back to 
it as a master^ s house. *'Make me as one of 
thy hired servants." The spirit in which he 
comes back to the father is plainly seen in 
this request. He wants to serve. He seems 
to have wanted to recompense his father for 
any pain he might have caused him. He is 
glad to get back under the rule from under 
which he was once so anxious to be free. He 
makes an open request. ^ ' Make me as one of thy 
hired servants." ** Redemption must begin in 
subjection, and in the recovery of the sense 
of fatherhood and authority; just as all ruin 
and desolution began in the loss of that sense. 
*The lost son began by claiming his rights. 
He is found when he resigns them. He is lost 



12« STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

by flying from his father, when his father's 
authority was only paternal: he is found by 
returning to his father, and desiring that his 
authority may be absolute, as over a hired ser- 
vant.'' Thus we see by all these marks — ^by 
humbly confessing his guilt, by feeling shame 
on account of it, and by sincerely desiring to 
be ruled and controlled by the will of the father 
— the father's house and the father's heart 
were opened to the prodigal. The father's great 
loving heart was touched, and he '^was moved 
with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck ; 
and kissed him," and *^said to his servants, 
Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it 
on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes 
on his feet: and bring the fatted calf, and kill 
it, and let us eat, and make merry: for this 
my son was dead, and is alive again; he was 
lost, and is found. And they began to be 
merrv. " 

But while the father is lavishing his great 
love upon him, the prodigal is feeling his un- 
worthiness. '^I am no more worthy to be 
called thy son." He feels that the time ivhen 
he was worthy is in the far distant past. He 
begins to form an estimation of himself, and 
^*the estimate which he had of himself depend- 
ed upon the standard with which he compared 
himself. He ''had formed a different measure 
of himself in his previous experience, because 
his standard had been different." He had a 
good opinion of himself. With his money, he 



THIC PRODIGAL SON 127 

was liberal; he was generous-hearted; ^'he- 
had-a-great-big-heart*'; nothing was too costly 
with which to treat his friends ; money wa^ no 
object with hira ; he flung it right and left, and 
he had the reputation of being the most '^whole- 
hearted'^ fellow in the ''far country/' He 
thought he was a good fellow, and "measured 
by the harlots and drunkards, he was a good 

fellow", and when he settled down to some- 
thing like industry, and measured himself with 
swineherds, "he thought himself perhaps bet- 
ter than the average/' It may be that he was, 
but when he turned his thoughts backward, 
and compared himself with the great loving 
father whose home he had rashly left, then 
he said, "I am no more worthy to be called 
thy son." He had adopted a new standard, and 
thus "a new judgment is reached." In the 
light of this neiv standard, are you worthy to 
be called God's son? The doctor is worthy to 
be called good doctor; the teacher is worthy 

to be called good teacher ; the mother is worthy 
to be called good mother; the father is worthy 
to be called good father; Take this standard: 
God's son — are you worthy to be called God's 
son? What does it mean to be God's son? 
' ' How shall we apply the measurements ? ' ' THIS 
WAY. Take Jesus Christ and lay your life 
alongside His life and then ask yourself, "Am 
I worthy to be called God's son?" If you find 
that your life is not wholly consecrated to God's 
service, and that your heart is not full of un- 



128 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

selfishness and self -forgetting love, you are not 
worthy to be called God's son. 

III. In the third place let us look at '^the 
prodigal and his 'brother,''^ I have often won- 
dered what the result would have been if the 
parable had closed while we were rejoicing in 
the return and reception of this yoimg- 
er brother. He has returned from the 
far country, and his father has commanded 
merry-making. If this story had closed here 
we would have been left *^ rejoicing in the 
joy of the father over his regained and peni- 
tent son." **The ring of a prince is put on his 
finger, and the shoes of a freeman on his feet." 
There is great rejoicing. The father seems to 
say that the best is not good enough for the 
son who has just returned from the **far coun- 
try." Everything is brilliant and gay. No 
heart is beating with greater joy than that 
father's. The music increases and the dancing 
adds to the merriment. But behold! in the 
midst of it all, there comes a discord occasioned 
by the ** elder brother", whose ugly conduct 
robs the story of its natural and happy ending. 
*^He was angry, and would not go in: and his 
father came out, and entreated him. But he 
answered and said to his father, Lo, these many 
years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed 
a commandment of thine; and yet thou never 
gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with 
my friends: but when this thy son came, who 
hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou 



THE PRODIGAL SON 129 

killest for him the fatted calf." From these 
two passages of scripture it seems that the 
father's service was the ** elder brother's" 
delight, 'Hhat on the mere prompting of love 
he had at all times kept his father's command- 
ments", and *^that under all changes and 
temptations to distrust, he confided in his 
father's wisdom and care." Apparently the 

^^ elder brother's" character was in great con- 
trast with that of his yoimger brother, for, as 
we have seen, the conduct of the yo.unger 
brother, for a time, was of the most corrupt 
type. In him we have an open and jovial 
sinner depicted to the very life. But is the 
elder son in any way a better son? Is his con- 
duct more commendable than the younger 
brother's? Does he show a more childlike 
spirit? Does he conduct himself more like a 
son than his younger brother? Do you see 

even one more admirable trait of character in 
him than in the younger brother? Not 
one! Not a whit! He is not one 

iota better than his younger brother. 
*' Loving dependence, /ree obedience, glad 
and disinterested service, are the distinc- 
tive marks of sonship." Not a single one of 
these do you find in him. According to his own 
story, he is a servant rather than a son, and 
^*his father is much more a master to him than 
a father." He is no better satisfied at home 
than his younger brother who would not sub- 
mit to its restraints. *^His obedience is not 



130 STEPS UNTO HEAVEN 

/r^e, but servile." He has been serving for 
wages, and without them I do not think that 
he would have served. He claims to have 
earned far more than he had received. ** Ob- 
viously, then", acording to Cox, ''the elder 
son was as far away from his father's heart 
and spirit as the younger son had been from 
his father's home, and had sunk into a bondage 
from which it was still harder to redeem him. 

We must remember that in this parable we have 
the story of two prodigals, rather than one; of 
two men, that is, who wandered away from 
God — who lost their standing as sons by losing 
the spirit of sons; and that the self-righteous 
censor of his brother, the cold and insolent 
critic of his father, although he had never left 
his house, had strayed even farther from God 
than the reckless Prodigal who, under all his 
sins, and sinful impulses, had a son's heart in 
him, and was at last drawn back by it to his 
father's arms. The parable teaches that those 
who esteem themselves saints, because they 
busy themselves with religious dogmas and 

rules, may be made of harder and more impen- 
etrable stuff than the transgressors whom they 
eye with sour suspicion and disdain. But it 
teaches us a lesson still more surprising than this 
It teaches us that, let men be as bad as they may, 
and whether they show a wild, wilful, and 
wanton spirit, or a cautious, selfish, and mer- 
cenary spirit, or whether they are the slaves 
of impulses or of conventionalism, God is 



I 



THE PRODIGAL SON 131 

always a good Father to them all. The truth 
is that we may each of us only too easily find 
both these men in himself, and therefore God's 
grace to the one should be as welcome and 
pathetic as His grace to the other." 

Thus we may rejoice that our heavenly 
Father is exceedingly good to both, and that 
when we return from following after the world, 
He has compassion on us. And that when we 
are angry with Him, and, like the elder brother, 
will not go in. He loves us and comes out and 
entreats us. 

"God is calling the prodigal, come without delay, 
Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for thee; 
Tho' you've wander'd so far from His presence, 

come today. 
Hear His loving voice calling still. 

Patient, loving, and tenderly still the Father pleads, 
Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for thee; 
Oh, return while the Spirit in mercy intercedes, 
Hear His loving voice calling still. 

Come there's bread in the house of thy Father, and 

to spare, 
Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for thee; 
Lo! the table is spread and the feast is waiting 

there. 
Hear His loving voice calling still." 



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